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2003-04
Brandeis University
Waltham, Massachusetts
Table of Contents
3
Brandeis University
52
5 Mission Statement
53 Admission
5 Accreditation Statement
54 Academic Regulations
5 Annual Notice to Students
6 Professional Education
56 Fees and Expenses
57
7 Research Centers and Institutes
58 Academic Regulations
12 Fine and Performing Arts Facilities
12 Residence Halls
59 Fees and Expenses
61
Courses of Instruction
13 Student Facilities
62 Block System
14 Athletic Facilities
63 Final Examination Schedule
14 Academic Services
64 Course Abbreviations
16 Student Life
66 Requirement Codes
18 Student Judicial System
42
Brandeis International Business School
57 Admission
11 Major Academic Support Facilities
19
The Heller School for Social Policy and Management
Subject Area Course Listings
18 Student Activities
67 African and Afro-American Studies
18 Public Safety
70 American Studies
19 Dining Facilities
76 Anthropology
The College of Arts and Sciences
84 Arabic Language and Literature
20 Admission
84 Biochemistry
24 Financial Aid
89 Biological Physics
26 Fees and Expenses
93 Biology
27 Payment Plans
100 Biophysics and Structural Biology
28 Requirements for the Degrees
102 Business
32 Academic Regulations
104 Chemistry
37 Special Academic Opportunities
112 Chinese
40 Off-Campus Study
113 Classical Studies
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
117 Comparative Literature
42 Areas of Graduate Study
121 Computer Science
42 Admission
126 East Asian Studies
44 International Students
128 Economics
44 Requirements for the Degrees
133 Education
46 Academic Regulations
139 English and American Literature
50 Fees and Expenses
152 Environmental Studies
51 Financial Assistance
155 European Cultural Studies
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159 Film Studies
281 Near Eastern and Judaic Studies
220 Finance
300 Neuroscience
161 Fine Arts
305 Peace, Conflict, and Coexistence
Studies
169 French Language and Literature
307 Philosophy
172 General Science
312 Physical Education
173 Genetic Counseling
315 Physics
175 German Language and Literature
322 Politics
178 German, Russian, and East Asian
Languages and Literature
331 Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program
178 Health and Society
332 Psychology
180 Health: Science, Society, and Policy
340 Religious Studies
183 Hebrew Language and Literature
343 Romance and Comparative Literature
188 The Heller School for Social Policy
and Management
344 Russian and East European Studies
345 Russian Language and Literature
200 History
348 Social Justice and Social Policy
211 History of Ideas
350 Sociology
241 The Hornstein Program in
Jewish Communal Service
360 Spanish Language and Literature
214 Independent Interdisciplinary Major
364 Theater Arts
215 International and Global Studies
373 Tutorial Program
219 International Business
377 Women’s Studies
220 International Business School
383 Yiddish
232 International Studies
384 General University Requirements
234 Internet Studies
385 Foreign Language
235 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies
386 Non-Western and Comparative Studies
238 Italian Studies
388 Quantitative Reasoning
240 Japanese
389 University Seminars in Humanistic Inquiries
245 Journalism
398 University Writing
248 Latin American Studies
250 Legal Studies
254 Library Intensive Program
255 Linguistics
258 Mathematics
264 Medieval and Renaissance Studies
266 Molecular and Cell Biology
400 University Organization
400, 401 Board of Trustees
402 University Officers and Administrative
Offices
405 Officers of Instruction
416 Index
426 Correspondence Directory
428 Academic Calendar
271 Music
Programs, requirements, fees, and other
information are set forth herein as they exist
at the date of this publication. Brandeis
University reserves the right to make changes
without notice.
Office of Publications
©2003 Brandeis University
T171/8M/PPS
Printed on recycled paper
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Brandeis University
Brandeis University is a private,
coeducational, and nonsectarian institution
of higher learning and research. Located in
Waltham, Massachusetts, its 3,100 students
are drawn from 50 states and 101 countries,
and its faculty of 333 includes nationally and
internationally recognized teachers, scholars,
and researchers.
Founded in 1948 by the American Jewish
community, Brandeis brings to American
higher education a unique cultural
perspective reflecting Jewish traditions of
scholarship and community service and the
commitment to social justice personified by
Louis Dembitz Brandeis, the distinguished
Supreme Court justice for whom the
University is named. While Brandeis
maintains a special relationship with the
Jewish community, it is not affiliated with
any religious organization, it offers no
theological instruction, and it welcomes
students and faculty of all backgrounds
and beliefs.
Through a comprehensive curriculum and
cocurricular activities, Brandeis presents
students with a diverse array of issues and
approaches to learning. The academic focus
throughout is on the liberal arts and sciences
and no professional training is conducted at
the undergraduate level. Undergraduate
courses are offered, however, in legal studies,
education, business, premedical studies,
journalism, and other areas that help prepare
students for later professional training. At the
graduate level, Brandeis University offers
professional programs in social welfare,
international economics and finance, and
Jewish communal service.
Brandeis is a member of the Association of
American Universities, which represents the
leading research institutions in North
America, and is accredited by the New
England Association of Schools and Colleges.
The research interests of the faculty span a
wide range of disciplines in the sciences,
social sciences, humanities, and creative arts.
The University’s principal components are
the undergraduate College of Arts and
Sciences, the Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences, The Heller School for Social Policy
and Management, the Lown School of Near
Eastern and Judaic Studies, the Rabb School
of Summer and Continuing Studies, and the
Brandeis International Business School.
The College of Arts and Sciences is the core
of the University. With an enrollment of
nearly 3,100, it combines the intimacy of a
small college with the breadth and depth of a
major research institution. The curriculum is
designed for maximum flexibility, choice, and
interconnectedness. At its heart are programs
that emphasize interdisciplinary and
integrative perspectives: University Seminars
in Humanistic Inquiries and non-Western and
comparative studies. Other curricular
components include courses that hone
writing, quantitative reasoning, and foreign
language skills. In addition, students select
courses from 24 departments and 28
interdepartmental programs. They choose
from among 43 majors and 42 minors, and
may also elect an independent
interdisciplinary major.
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences,
established in 1953, offers master’s and
doctoral programs in 33 fields, and postbaccalaureate programs in computer science,
studio art, and premedical studies, as well as
a diploma in Jewish studies. Current
enrollment is about 900. Graduate study
offers students in-depth, broad-based
scholarly exposure while providing
professional training in their chosen fields.
Founded in 1959, The Heller School for Social
Policy and Management enrolls
approximately 300 students. The School
offers a Ph.D. in social policy, a Master of
Management, a Master of Business
Administration (human services), and a
Master of Arts in sustainable international
development. Graduates of the Ph.D. program
pursue careers in teaching, research, and
high-level administration. Graduates of the
M.M. and M.B.A. program hold a variety of
managerial positions in public, private, and
not-for-profit, mission-driven organizations.
Graduates of the Sustainable International
Development Program hold positions in
international agencies and local development
organizations throughout the world. Faculty
research focuses on major public policy issues
around the areas of aging; child, youth, and
families; health; mental health; substance
abuse; disabilities; and economic hardship
and inequality.
The Lown School, one of the most
comprehensive centers for Judaic studies
outside Israel, reflects Brandeis’s special
commitment to scholarship that illuminates
issues of concern to the Jewish community,
scholars in religion, and students of the
ancient and modern Near East. It houses the
Department of Near Eastern and Judaic
Studies, the Maurice and Marilyn Cohen
Center for Modern Jewish Studies, The
Tauber Institute for the Study of European
Jewry, The Jacob and Libby Goodman
Institute for the Study of Zionism, the
Bernard G. and Rhoda G. Sarnat Center for
the Study of Anti-Jewishness, and the
Benjamin S. Hornstein Program in Jewish
Communal Service. The National Center for
Jewish Film and the American Jewish
Historical Society are affiliated with the
Lown School.
The Brandeis International Business School
(IBS) is the newest graduate school at the
University, established in 1994. Formerly
known as the Graduate School of
International Economics and Finance, the
School’s mission has expanded to encompass
all aspects of international business and
economic interdependence. Its degree
programs meet the growing need for
international vision and expertise in the
global economy by integrating skills,
perspectives, and experiences in international
business, economics, and finance. Several of
the School’s programs are offered in
collaboration with the Department of
Economics. The School’s research addresses
various dimensions of interdependence,
including currency markets, asset prices,
patents and technology flows, international
strategic alliances, trade policy, central
banking, international branding and
marketing, and multicultural
communication. Major research units address
global finance and the Asia-Pacific economy.
The Rabb School of Summer and Continuing
Studies extends the traditional excellence of a
Brandeis education to the greater community
with opportunities for professional
development and lifelong learning. With
more than 3,100 enrollments, college and
adult students participate each year in its
noncredit and credit undergraduate and
graduate programs, which include the
Division of Continuing Studies (part-time
evening study), the Summer School, and the
Brandeis Adult Learning Institute.
In addition to its five main components,
Brandeis maintains several major research
centers and institutes and interdisciplinary
programs. These include the Gordon Public
Policy Center, the Institute for Health Policy,
the Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences
Research Center, and the Benjamin and Mae
Volen National Center for Complex Systems.
Academic support facilities include the
1 million-volume Brandeis University
Libraries, the Feldberg Communications
Center, the Hiatt Career Center, the Spingold
Theater Center, the Rose Art Museum, the
Slosberg Music Center, and the Rita Dee and
Harold Hassenfeld Conference Center.
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Recreational facilities include the new
Shapiro Campus Center, Usdan Student
Center, the Sherman Student Center, and the
Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, one
of the largest of its kind in the region. The
University has an active intramural and club
program and fields intercollegiate teams in 10
men’s and 10 women’s sports. Brandeis is one
of nine NCAA Division III schools that
competes in the University Athletic
Association.
Section 2B of Chapter 151C of the
Massachusetts General Laws provides that:
“Any student [...] who is unable, because of
his religious beliefs to attend classes or to
participate in any examination, study, or
work requirement on a particular day shall be
[so] excused...and shall be provided with an
opportunity to make up such examination,
study, or work requirement which he may
have missed because of such absence on any
particular day; provided, however, that such
makeup examination or work shall not create
an unreasonable burden upon such school. No
fees of any kind shall be charged...for making
available to the said student such
opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects
shall result to any student because of his
availing himself of the provisions of this
section.”
Brandeis University does not discriminate
on the basis of race, color, age, genetic
information, religion, national origin, sex,
sexual orientation, disability, or status as
a veteran in its programs and activities.
The following person has been designated
to handle inquiries regarding the
nondiscrimination policies: Associate Vice
President of Human Resources/Employee
Relations, Gryzmish 106, 781-736-3015.
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Mission Statement
Accreditation Statement
Annual Notice to Students
Brandeis University is a community of
scholars and students united by their
commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and
its transmission from generation to
generation. As a research university, Brandeis
is dedicated to the advancement of the
humanities, arts, and social, natural, and
physical sciences. As a liberal arts college,
Brandeis affirms the importance of a broad
and critical education in enriching the lives
of students and preparing them for full
participation in a changing society, capable of
promoting their own welfare, yet remaining
deeply concerned about the welfare of others.
Brandeis University is accredited by the New
England Association of Schools and Colleges,
Inc., a nongovernmental, nationally
recognized organization whose affiliated
institutions include elementary schools
through collegiate institutions offering
postgraduate instruction.
Brandeis Graduation Rate
In a world of challenging social and
technological transformation, Brandeis
remains a center of open inquiry and
teaching, cherishing its independence from
any doctrine or government. It strives to
reflect the heterogeneity of the United States
and of the world community whose ideas and
concerns it shares. In the belief that the most
important learning derives from the personal
encounter and joint work of teacher and
student, Brandeis encourages undergraduates
and postgraduates to participate with
distinguished faculty in research, scholarship,
and artistic activities.
Brandeis was founded in 1948 as a
nonsectarian university under the
sponsorship of the American Jewish
community to embody its highest ethical and
cultural values and to express its gratitude to
the United States through the traditional
Jewish commitment to education. By being a
nonsectarian university that welcomes
students, teachers, and staff of every
nationality, religion, and political orientation,
Brandeis renews the American heritage of
cultural diversity, equal access to
opportunity, and freedom of expression.
The University that carries the name of the
justice who stood for the rights of individuals
must be distinguished by academic
excellence, by truth pursued wherever it may
lead, and by awareness of the power and
responsibilities that come with knowledge.
As adopted at the meeting of the Board of
Trustees, December 6, 1984.
Accreditation of an institution by the New
England Association indicates that it meets
or exceeds criteria for the assessment of the
institutional quality periodically applied
through a peer group review process. An
accredited school or college is one that has
available the necessary resources to achieve
its stated purposes through appropriate
educational programs, is substantially doing
so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will
continue to do so in the foreseeable future.
Institutional integrity also is addressed
through accreditation.
Accreditation by the New England
Association is not partial but applies to the
institution as a whole. As such, it is not a
guarantee of the quality of every course or
program offered, or the competence of
individual graduates. Rather, it provides
opportunities available to students who
attend the institution.
Inquiries regarding the status of an
institution’s accreditation by the New
England Association should be directed to the
Office of the Provost and Senior Vice
President for Academic Affairs, Brandeis
University, Mailstop 134, P.O. Box 549110,
Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9110.
Individuals may also contact the association:
Commission on Institutions of
Higher Learning
New England Association of Schools
and Colleges, Inc.
209 Burlington Road
Bedford, Massachusetts 01730-1433
781-271-0022
781-271-0950 FAX
In compliance with federal law, the
University makes available to students and
prospective students information concerning
the rate at which full-time, first-time degree
seeking students complete requirements for
the bachelor’s degree within six years of
entrance. In 2001-02, the graduation rate
for students who entered Brandeis in 1996
was 85%.
Policies Regarding Educational Records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights
with respect to their educational records.
They are:
(1) The right to inspect and review the
student’s education records within 45 days of
the day the University receives a request for
access.
Students should submit to the University
Registrar, Dean, Department Chair, or other
appropriate official, written requests that
identify the record(s) they wish to inspect.
The University official will make
arrangements for access and notify the
student of the time and place where the
records may be inspected. If the records are
not maintained by the University official to
whom the request was submitted, that
official shall advise the student of the correct
official to whom the request should be
addressed.
(2) The right to request the amendment of the
student’s education records that the student
believes are inaccurate, misleading or
otherwise in violation of the student’s
privacy rights.
To seek the amendment of a record believed
to be inaccurate or misleading, students
should write the University official
responsible for the record, clearly identify the
part of the record they want changed, and
specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If
the University decides not to amend the
record, it will notify the student accordingly,
advising of the right to a hearing regarding
the request for amendment. Additional
information regarding hearing procedures will
be provided at that time.
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(3) The right to consent to disclosures of
personally identifiable information contained
in the student’s education records, except to
the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure
without consent.
Exceptions that permit disclosure without
consent include but are not limited to: (a)
disclosure to parents of students who are
claimed as dependents for tax purposes; (b)
disclosure to officials of another school in
which a student seeks to enroll; (c)
disclosures in compliance with certain
subpoenas; and (d) disclosures to university
officials with legitimate educational
interests. An official is a person employed by
the University in an administrative,
supervisory, academic, or support staff
position; a person or company with whom the
University has contracted (such as an
attorney, the National Student Loan
Clearinghouse, or a collection agent); a person
serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student
serving on an official committee, or assisting
another school official in performing his or
her tasks. Such an official has a legitimate
educational interest if information in the
educational records is necessary to the
maintenance of the academic enterprise and/
or to the officer’s capacity to act responsibly
in the student’s educational interest.
(4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S.
Department of Education concerning alleged
failures by Brandeis University to comply
with the requirements of FERPA. The name
and address of the office that administers
FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office,
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-4605.
Public Notice Designating Directory
Information
The University designates the following
categories of student information as public
“directory information.” Such information
may be disclosed by the institution for any
purpose, at its discretion. The University
makes student directory information
available in two forms—electronically (as an
online directory) and in the annual directory
published at the start of the fall semester.
Currently enrolled students and newly
matriculated students may withhold
disclosure of any category of information
under FERPA. Students who withhold
category I information will not appear in
either the online directory or the annual
published directory. Students who do not
wish to have directory information published
in the annual student directory must file
notice in the Office of the University
Registrar before July 15. Students who do not
wish to have directory information published
in the online student directory must file
notice in the Office of the University
Registrar—seven working days may be
required for such notification to take effect.
Brandeis University assumes that failure on
the part of any student to specifically request
the withholding of public information
indicates individual approval for disclosure.
Category I
Name, local addresses (including electronic
address) and telephone number, home address
and telephone number, date of birth, fulltime/part-time status, class (i.e., freshman,
sophomore, etc.), photograph, and digital
likeness.
Category II
Dates of attendance and field of
concentration at Brandeis, previous
institution(s) attended and major field of
study, awards and honors, degree(s) conferred
and date(s) conferred.
Category III
Past and present participation in officially
recognized sports and activities, physical
factors (height, weight of athletes).
Notifications regarding directory information
should be sent to:
Office of the University Registrar
Mailstop 068
P.O. Box 549110
Waltham, MA 02454-9110
Sealing Student Records
After students graduate from the University
their records are sealed and no further
changes are allowed. The correction of
clerical mistakes is possible by petition to the
University Registrar.
Name Changes
The transcript is the official, legal document
that certifies a student’s academic history.
The name in which it is maintained will not
be changed without a written request that
must be accompanied by materials that prove
that the requested new name has been
assumed legally. Name changes will be
accommodated at the discretion of the
University Registrar. Name changes are no
longer possible for students who entered
Brandeis prior to 1986.
Electronic Notifications
Many, if not all, administrative offices of the
University rely on email to communicate
official notifications quickly and efficiently
to students. Students are strongly urged to
sign-up for a Brandeis UNet account as failure
to have a valid email address on file can
disrupt communication and result in lost
opportunities.
Professional Education
The Heller School for Social Policy and
Management
The internationally renowned Heller School
was founded in 1959. It offers four degrees, a
Ph.D. in social policy, a Master of
Management, an M.B.A. (human services),
and a Master of Arts degree in sustainable
international development (SID). Students in
the Master of Management and M.B.A.
program pursue a rigorous course of study
that integrates management and social policy
courses as well as an on-site team consulting
project to prepare graduates for management
careers in public, private, and not-for-profit
organizations pursuing social missions.
Optional management concentrations are
available in health care, child, youth, and
family services, and elder and disabled
services. The Ph.D. program prepares
individuals for advanced positions in
teaching, research, and administration.
Students may focus on policy issues in the
areas of aging; children, youth, and families;
health policy; disabilities; and economic
social inequalities. Two training programs
prepare students to contribute original
scholarly research to the field of social policy
literature. SID students pursue an
interdisciplinary program that includes
courses in public policy, development
economics, and environmental management.
Students also work with development
professionals in the areas of project planning,
implementation, and evaluation, as well as
human rights and development, microfinance, and conservation and development.
The faculty represents a broad spectrum of
the social sciences and related fields and
conducts a multidisciplinary, policy-oriented
research and management program on a wide
range of health and welfare issues. The Heller
School provides educational resources and
research opportunities for students: the
Schneider Institute for Health Policy; the
Family and Child Policy Center; the Institute
for Sustainable Development; the Nathan and
Toby Starr Center for Mental Retardation; the
Policy Center on Aging; the National Center
on Women and Aging; the Center on Hunger
and Poverty; the Center for Youth and
Communities; the Center for Social Change;
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and Center for International Development.
The Heller School also supports major
research projects in the area of substance
abuse, mental health, and a variety of other
social concerns.
Brandeis International Business School
The Brandeis International Business School
(formerly known as the Graduate School of
International Economics and Finance) is a
pioneering professional school dedicated to
teaching and research in global finance,
management, and economic policy.
Established in 1994, the School responds to
the growing need for international vision and
expertise by preparing exceptional individuals
from around the world to become principled
leaders of global companies and public
institutions.
The School’s degree programs address the
complex challenges decision-makers face in
the emerging global economy, in varied
business and policy-making environments.
They include:
The Lemberg M.A. in International
Economics and Finance, offered in
collaboration with the University’s
economics department, integrates analytical
skills in economics and capital markets with
management insights and global economic
perspectives.
The M.B.A. International offers an
internationally focused curriculum in all
business and management functions, with
special emphasis on finance and strategy.
The M.S. in Finance is a part-time program
focused on the quantitative and analytical
tools of modern finance with emphasis on
applications in investments and corporate
financial management.
The Ph.D. in International Economics and
Finance, offered in collaboration with the
University’s economics department, provides
advanced training in economic theory,
research techniques, and creative problem
solving.
The School’s research covers fields ranging
from currency markets, corporate financial
signaling, and asset prices to patents and
technology flows, international branding,
multicultural communication, and many
other fields. Its major research units include:
The Barbara and Richard Rosenberg Institute
of Global Finance
Established in 2001 with a generous gift from
Barbara and Richard Rosenberg, the Institute
anticipates and addresses major trends and
challenges in the global economy through
research, public conferences and symposia,
and teaching.
The Center for Asia-Pacific Business and
Economics
The Center addresses trade, investment,
finance, and development in the Asia Pacific
as a whole, and in particular countries of the
region. The Center is also an APEC Study
Center.
Additional information on the School, its
programs and activities, and its admissions
policies may be obtained from the School’s
website, www.brandeis.edu/global, or by
contacting its administrative offices at
Brandeis University.
The Rabb School of Summer and
Continuing Studies
Through its programs, the Rabb School offers
opportunities for lifelong learning, career
advancement, and personal enrichment.
The Office of Continuing Studies offers open
enrollment, undergraduate and graduate
courses in the evening leading to:
1. A certificate in Software Engineering
Fundamentals (undergraduate prerequisite
program).
2. Graduate certificates in bioinformatics,
software engineering, ecommerce technology,
software engineering management, and web
content development.
3. A Master of Software Engineering degree,
as well as a Master of Science in
Bioinformatics degree and a Master of
Software Engineering/Master of Science in
Bioinformatics dual degree.
Further, the Office of Continuing Studies
works with companies in the Greater Boston
area to offer certificate and degree programs
on site.
Classes generally meet one night a week for
10 weeks; terms begin in September, January,
and May. A small number of graduate courses
are offered through distance learning.
The Brandeis Summer School is an open
admission program offering courses and
special summer programs for college-level
credit. Small classes taught by experienced
and dedicated instructors are the hallmark of
summer offerings. Summer affords the
opportunity to present special niche programs
and institutes, such as the Hebrew Language
Summer Institute, the Hebrew Instructor
Training Workshop, and the Lydian String
Quartet Chamber Music Festival. Brandeis
Summer School courses do not have to be
preapproved for transfer of credit to the
Brandeis degree. Courses may be used to
address the University’s residency
requirement, general requirements, as well as
major and minor requirements. Brandeis
Summer School courses are included in the
calculation of any degree candidate GPAs.
The Brandeis Adult Learning Institute (BALI)
is a community of older adults that offers
noncredit, peer-led study, in a spirit of
conviviality, in a wide range of topics, such as
history, literature, art, music, religion,
philosophy, science, and writing. At midday,
the Lunch & Learn program features
excellent speakers, e.g., journalists,
academics, artists, on an eclectic array of
topics. Study groups meet one day a week;
10-week terms begin in late fall and late
spring. Twice annually, in January and June,
the program offers “Intensives,” a one-week
learning opportunity focused on a single
theme, e.g., The Enlightenment, Democracy.
“Intensives” integrate teaching and learning
with a Brandeis faculty member and peer
leaders to create a unique learning
experience.
Research Centers and Institutes
The Bernard G. and Rhoda G. Sarnat Center
for the Study of Anti-Jewishness
The Bernard G. and Rhoda G. Sarnat Center
for the Study of Anti-Jewishness aims to
promote an understanding of the causes,
nature, and consequences of anti-Jewish
prejudice, as well as Jewish and non-Jewish
responses in historical and contemporary
perspectives. Organized on a
multidisciplinary basis, the Sarnat Center
initiates and supports research, conferences,
and publications, as well as teaching in the
history of anti-Semitism.
Community, Families, and Work Program
Founded in 2001, the Community, Families,
and Work Program (CFWP) conducts
innovative, cutting-edge, policy-oriented
research. The program’s guiding premise is
that well-functioning communities enhance
the ability of families to meet their needs and
promote the well-being of employees, their
families, and their workplaces. The goal of
CFWP is to enhance work-family balance by
attending to the important role played by
community. CFWP employs a research model
that highlights the relationship among these
three domains.
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CFWP cohosts an Annual Invitational
Journalism-Work/Family Conference. The
aim of the conference is to facilitate
interaction between leading work-family
researchers and representatives of the media
in an effort to improve the quality of media
coverage of critical work-family issues. CFWP
cohosts this event with the College of
Communication at Boston University. At
each conference, CFWP presents an award to
the winner of an annual national competition
that encourages and supports doctoral
research on community, families, and work.
The Institute for Sustainable Development
(The Heller School for Social Policy and
Management)
The Institute for Sustainable Development
(ISD) was established in 2000 as home to
several research and development centers
who share a belief in a simple proposition:
universities must play a leadership role in
alleviating the conditions that give rise to
persistent poverty. The Institute’s domestic
and international projects address this
challenge by involving ISD in poverty
reduction strategies through education and
training, scholarship, developing and
evaluating social program and social policy
solutions, and by serving as a facilitator of
collaborative efforts among other universities
and their community partners.
Through the work of three research centers,
The Center for World Development, The
Center for Youth and Communities, and the
Center for Social Change, ISD focuses
strategically in the United States and abroad
on three interrelated fields: the sustainable
development field with its environmental
focus, the youth development field, and the
community development field. The view of
ISD is development that is environmentally
and socially sound with a special emphasis on
youth and communities is a powerful
approach for strengthening families,
community-building, and nation-building.
The Center on International Development
(The Heller School for Social Policy and
Management)
The Center on International Development
(CID) conducts research and policy analysis
and provides technical assistance to promote
sustainable development, eliminate poverty,
and prevent illness. Through its faculty,
researchers and students, CID is engaged in
partnerships with development organizations
and universities abroad. These partnerships
work in the areas of community resource
management, poverty alleviation and
resource distribution, gender and
development, and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) and civil society.
The Center for Youth and Communities
(The Heller School for Social Policy
and Management)
The Center on Hunger and Poverty
(The Heller School for Social Policy
and Management)
The Center for Youth and Communities
(formerly the Center on Human Resources) at
Brandeis University is one of the nation’s
leading research, professional development,
and policy development organizations in the
fields of youth development, employment,
and education. As part of The Heller School
at Brandeis, the Center’s mission is to
improve the quality of services for children,
youth, and families by combining the
knowledge gained from scholarly research
with practical experience in ways that will
help practitioners and policy makers
successfully address the issues of long-term
self-sufficiency for youths and adults. To
accomplish that mission, the Center for
Youth and Communities pursues four broad
types of activity: policy development,
research synthesis and evaluation,
professional development and technical
assistance, and dissemination.
The Center on Hunger and Poverty is a
national research and policy organization that
promotes policies and programs to reduce
poverty and hunger in America. The Center
conducts applied research and policy analysis,
disseminates analytic information on poverty
and hunger, carries out public education
initiatives, and provides information to
Congress and other policy makers as well as
organizations across the country on povertyand hunger-related issues. The Center houses
two institutes: the Food Security Institute,
which facilitates the use of a federal survey
research instrument and assists organizations
in using the results, and the Asset
Development Institute, which promotes the
concept of “asset development” as a central
framework for domestic social policy. Both
Institutes utilize graduate students as
research assistants in carrying out their work.
The Center for Social Change
(The Heller School for Social Policy
and Management)
The Center for Social Change was established
in 1984, the 25th anniversary of The Heller
School, in order to put issues of social and
economic justice and human solidarity on
The Heller School’s agenda.
The work of the Center is based on the
recognition that human ills and social
problems are rooted in societal structures and
dynamics, and in social values and ideologies
that tend to justify and maintain prevailing
social orders and ways of life. Accordingly,
the Center aims to contribute through its
work toward transforming social, economic,
and political institutions that involve
domination and exploitation, injustice and
discrimination, conflict in human relations,
and ecological destruction into alternative
institutions conducive to healthy human
development for all from the local to the
global levels. Priority areas for the Center
studies are the redefinition, reorganization,
and redesign of work. Other foci of Center
studies are the sources, dynamics, and
prevention of violence, assessment of
progress toward compliance with human
rights standards as defined by the Declaration
of Human Rights, and community
organization, advocacy, empowerment, and
social change projects in Israel.
The Family and Child Policy Center
(The Heller School for Social Policy
and Management)
The Family and Child Policy Center (FCPC)
was established in 1990, with the support of
gifts from the Rapaporte Foundation and the
family of Barbara Fish Lee, to study changes
in family structure and to analyze the
impacts of these changes on social policies
affecting the lives of women and children.
Building on its initial focus on gender roles
and work/family issues, the Center is
directing increased attention to the health
and development of children, particularly as
they are threatened by the stresses of poverty,
economic insecurity, and racial or ethnic
discrimination. Central to this expanding
agenda is closer scrutiny of the current
national debate on the balance between
public and personal responsibility for human
well being, the devolution of political
authority from federal to state and local
levels, and conflicting views on the role of
government and the private sector to protect
the interests of our nation’s children and
their families.
Gordon Public Policy Center
The Gordon Public Policy Center is the
nation’s first interdisciplinary, multiuniversity center for the study of public
policy. Dedicated in 1987, the Center was
founded by the James Gordon Foundation of
Chicago. The Center’s mission is to analyze
domestic public policy from the perspective
of a number of academic disciplines to
improve the implementation of public
programs through research and evaluation,
publications, and direct practical service to
those in government. It seeks to bridge the
world of ideas and the world of action.
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The Schneider Institute for Health
Policy (The Heller School for Social Policy
and Management)
The Schneider Institute for Health Policy has
achieved national recognition as a leading
health care policy and research institute.
Since its establishment in 1978, the Institute
has conducted research, policy analysis, and
technical assistance on issues of organization
delivery, regulation, and financing of the
United States and selected international
health care systems. The Institute comprises
several areas: finance and reimbursement,
national state and local politics, vulnerable
populations, diversity, long-term care for
elders, substance abuse, and program
evaluation.
Within The Heller School, the Schneider
Institute for Health Policy constitutes the
largest research center with more than 60
studies in its current health services research
and policy study portfolio. Some members of
the Institute staff also hold faculty positions
within The Heller School. In many ways, the
Institute represents an institutional hybrid.
The Institute possesses the characteristics of
an academic setting with a commitment to
educate students, and also possesses
characteristics of a research think tank or
large consulting firm. Support for research
undertaken by the Institute is provided by
federal and state grants and contracts,
corporations, and private foundations.
The International Center for Ethics, Justice
and Public Life
The International Center for Ethics, Justice
and Public Life, founded in 1998, exists to
illuminate the ethical dilemmas and
obligations inherent in global and
professional leadership, with particular focus
on the challenges of racial, ethnic, and
religious pluralism. Examining responses to
past conflicts, acts of intervention, and
failures to intervene, the Center seeks to
enable just and appropriate responses in the
future. Activities include: fellowships for
scholars, artists, and practitioners; internship
opportunities for Brandeis undergraduates;
seminars for professionals on values and
ethics; courses; research projects,
publications; and campus activities. One of
the Center’s core programs, The Slifka
Program in Intercommunal Coexistence,
explores the practical and ethical dimensions
of work in historically divided communities
through activities on the Brandeis campus
and with partner organizations around the
world.
The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute
The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute:
International Research on Jewish Women
(HBI) develops fresh ways of thinking about
Jews and gender worldwide by producing and
promoting scholarly research and artistic
projects. Founded at Brandeis in 1997 by
Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization
of America, Inc., HBI is the world’s first
university-based research institute of its kind.
HBI provides research resources and
community programs for scholars, students,
and the public at large. The Institute sponsors
the Brandeis Series on Jewish Women, a book
series published by the University Press of
New England. It publishes Nashim, an
international, interdisciplinary academic
journal, in partnership with the Schechter
Institute of Jewish Studies, Jerusalem.
Each year, HBI convenes an international
conference on Jewish and gender studies
topics. Among the Institute’s offerings for
students and scholars are the Lily Safra
Summer Internship Program, research and
travel awards, and a Scholar-in-Residence
program.
The HBI is housed at the Brandeis Women’s
Studies Research Center.
The Jacob and Libby Goodman Institute for
the Study of Zionism and Israel
The Jacob and Libby Goodman Institute for
the Study of Zionism and Israel sponsors
research, symposia, and publications, as well
as teaching, in the historical and ideological
development of the Zionist movement, and
the history, society, and culture of the State
of Israel. The Institute is organized on a
multidisciplinary basis under the auspices of
The Tauber Institute for the Study of
European Jewry.
Lown School of Near Eastern and
Judaic Studies
The Department of Near Eastern and Judaic
Studies is the primary teaching and research
unit in the Lown School. In this department
the University has assembled an unusual
array of distinguished scholars who offer an
extremely broad curriculum. A second unit in
the Lown School is the Benjamin S.
Hornstein Program in Jewish Communal
Service, which provides graduate education
for students interested in professional careers
in Jewish communal service and Jewish
education. The Lown School of Near Eastern
and Judaic Studies also includes the Maurice
and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish
Studies and its Institute for Community and
Religion (based in San Francisco), which are
devoted to the study of contemporary
American Jewish life in the context of
religious life in America. The Cohen Center
and its Institute are national resources, and
together serve as a think tank, providing
policy-oriented research findings to the
academic community, Jewish communal
institutions, and Jewish communities
throughout North America. The Center’s
research focuses on diverse issues including
Jewish population trends, the social service
needs of American Jews, the Jewish family,
intermarriage and assimilation, Jewish
education and identity, Jewish philanthropy
and voluntarism, anti-Semitism in America,
and the relationship between American and
Israeli Jewries. Two independent centers of
scholarly research located on the Brandeis
campus are affiliated with the Lown School:
the American Jewish Historical Society and
the National Center for Jewish Film.
Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish
Education
The Mandel Center at Brandeis University is
dedicated to the study and improvement of
Jewish education. The Center focuses on the
practice of Jewish education and the learning
of Jewish educators throughout their careers
in order to strengthen the quality of Jewish
teaching in all its settings. Working at the
intersection of scholarship and practice, the
Center fosters a culture of collaboration
among researchers, educators, and
community partners. Through its initiatives
in Jewish education, the Mandel Center
contributes to a flourishing Jewish present
and future.
The Center currently operates the DeLeT
(Day School Leadership through Teaching)
program to train new Jewish day school
teachers, Boston Mandel Teacher Educator
Institute, various research projects around
issues of teaching and learning, a faculty
seminar on the teaching of bible.
Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for
Modern Jewish Studies (Lown School)
The Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for
Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University
is a multidisciplinary research center
dedicated to bringing the concepts, theories,
and techniques of social science to bear on
the study of modern Jewish life. Research
conducted at the Center explores how
contemporary Jewish identity is shaped and
how Jewish cultural expression and religious
practice are manifested. Recent work has
focused on issues such as Jewish education,
adolescents, intermarriage, Jewish identity,
and the role of synagogues, community
centers, and camps as socializing agents.
10
The Center for Modern Jewish Studies was
established at Brandeis in 1980 as a result of a
challenge grant from the Charles H. Revson
Foundation. In 1986, Maurice and Marilyn
Cohen provided an endowment gift to the
Center, which now bears their names.
Faculty at the Center are drawn from several
academic units, including The Heller School
for Social Policy and Management, the
Hornstein Program in Jewish Communal
Service, and the Department of Near Eastern
and Judaic Studies. In addition, the Center
includes a full-time research staff of scholars
trained in psychology, sociology, and
management. Undergraduate and graduate
students work at the Center, as interns,
research assistants, and research associates.
The work of the Center is widely
disseminated to the public and in scholarly
publications.
The Policy Center on Aging and
The National Center on Women and Aging
(The Heller School for Social Policy and
Management)
The United States is a society that is getting
older. There are now more than 32 million
persons over 65 and three and one-half
million over 85. The group over 85 is the
fastest growing segment of the elderly. These
demographic changes have many implications
for individuals and the collectivity.
The Heller School has been concerned with
policy solutions to problems of aging since its
inception in 1959, and is internationally
recognized for its unique programs in policy
analysis, research, and conducting
demonstrations. Graduates from the Policy
Center on Aging Program are found
throughout the country in universities,
government agencies, legislative staffs, and
service organizations.
The National Center on Women and Aging
was established in 1995 to improve the lives
of midlife and older women through research,
policy analysis, and community education.
The Center is unique in its focus, combining
the development and dissemination of
research with the creation of community
partnerships to promote the security, health,
independence, and well-being of women as
they age.
As the time rapidly approaches when more
than half of all adult women will be over 50,
the Center seeks to provide national
leadership in addressing the many challenges
facing women as they age. The threat of
poverty still stalks most women before they
die. Medical research and medical care are
still male-orientated. Women are still
overwhelmed by caregiving responsibilities.
These are among the critical concerns the
Center addresses, promoting feasible
solutions useful to policy makers and
women. The Center seeks to expand the
frontiers of knowledge about older women
and to develop recommendations for public/
private policies and initiatives to address
their needs.
Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences
Research Center
The Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences
Research Center is one of the nation’s leading
centers for research programs in the basic
medical sciences embracing work in
biochemistry, biology, biophysics, molecular
biology, immunology, and protein
crystallography. Staff members hold joint
faculty appointments with the Brandeis basic
science departments. The Center offers
hospitality to senior visiting scientists and to
younger researchers at the graduate student
and postdoctoral levels. It also sponsors
symposia and colloquia.
The Center is well provided with
sophisticated scientific equipment and
facilities, and through cooperative
interactions with other departments has
broadened the scope of basic medical science
research offerings at Brandeis. Grants from
such agencies as the National Science
Foundation, National Institutes of Health,
American Cancer Society, and the Muscular
Dystrophy Association support research
programs in the Rosenstiel Center. Basic
medical research is also conducted in
collaboration with several industrial sector
biotechnical organizations.
The Center also sponsors the annual
presentations of two prestigious scientific
awards: The Lewis S. Rosenstiel Award for
Distinguished Work in the Basic Medical
Sciences and The Jacob Heskel Gabbay
Award in Biotechnology and Medicine. The
Center also hosts the Boston Area
Biotechnology Roundtable, a quarterly forum
for the biotechnology industry.
The Starr Center for Mental Retardation
(The Heller School for Social Policy
and Management)
The Heller School established The Starr
Center for Mental Retardation in 1985 with
the generous support of Nathan and Toby
Starr. The Starr Center stays at the forefront
of the rapidly developing field of disability
policy by attracting students with strong
professional, academic, and personal
backgrounds and supporting them in focused
educational and research programs. In
addition to sponsoring student and faculty
research, The Starr Center supports a visiting
scholars program, an annual seminar series,
and invitational conferences and workshops.
The director of the Starr Center, Marty
Wyngaarden Krauss, Ph.D., has chaired the
Governor’s Commission on Mental
Retardation in Massachusetts and consults to
federal agencies and private foundations.
Graduates from the doctoral education
component of The Starr Center occupy
leadership positions as researchers and
professors in universities across the country.
Some graduates hold executive-level
positions as researchers or directors in
government and nonprofit health and mental
retardation agencies, while others serve as
key staff people on legislative committees
and in service organizations.
The Tauber Institute for the Study of
European Jewry
The Tauber Institute for the Study of
European Jewry seeks to study the history
and culture of European Jewry in the modern
period. It has a special interest in studying
the causes, nature, and consequences of the
European Jewish catastrophe and seeks to
explore them within the context of modern
European diplomatic, intellectual, political,
and social history. The Tauber Institute for
the Study of European Jewry is organized
on a multidisciplinary basis with the
participation of scholars in history, Judaic
studies, political science, sociology,
comparative literature, and other disciplines.
The Institute is primarily engaged in research
and publication; its monograph series is
published by Brandeis University Press. Its
government includes a distinguished Board of
Overseers, which advises the director and
works closely with the University. Members
of the Institute include fellows, faculty
advisors, associates, and graduate students.
Women’s Studies Research Center
The Brandeis University Women’s Studies
Research Center (WSRC) is an
interdisciplinary think-and-action tank of
faculty, staff and affiliated scholars. The two
major components of the Women’s Studies
Research Center are the Scholars Program
and the Hadassah Brandeis Institute (see HBI).
As an “intellectual hub,” the WSRC provides
researchers and artists with the opportunity
to conduct studies, produce works of art,
write books, and experiment with ideas, all of
which address the basic concerns of women
in the home, the workplace, the media, the
economy, and the world. The WSRC is an
integral part of Brandeis University and is
deeply committed to furthering Brandeis
University’s mission of excellence and
commitment to social justice. Programs
include colloquia, lectures, conferences, art
exhibits, performances, and recitals, in
addition to classes and film viewing.
11
The WSRC houses an interdisciplinary
community engaged in intellectual and
artistic exchange to enhance the process of
research. The environmentally aware,
prochildren, and aesthetically beautiful space
contributes to the high quality of the research
generated. The WSRC attracts women and
men who can best realize the potential of this
innovative environment. The WSRC emerged
from the Women’s Studies Program and is
guided by the National Board for the
Women’s Studies Research Center at Brandeis
University.
Volen National Center for Complex Systems
The Volen National Center for Complex
Systems is a multidisciplinary center
dedicated to the study of nervous system
function, cognition, and biological and
artificial intelligence. The Center is
composed of faculty members who specialize
in artificial intelligence, cognitive science,
and a wide range of topics in neuroscience
including experimental psychology,
computational neuroscience, and cellular and
molecular neurobiology. The Center is an
interdisciplinary group with the ability to
perform scientific analysis of the brain from
the cellular and molecular levels to the
cognitive and computational. The Center
aims to increase knowledge within each of its
individual component disciplines, as well as
to foster interactions among the components,
giving rise to new scientific initiatives.
Interested students should concentrate in one
of these component disciplines: biochemistry,
biology, chemistry, computer science,
neuroscience, physics, or psychology.
Major Academic Support Facilities
The Brandeis Libraries
The Brandeis University Libraries, including
the Goldfarb Library, the Farber Library, and
the Gerstenzang Science Library, offer a
combined collection of more than 1 million
print volumes, 880,000 microforms, 385,000
U.S. documents, and more than 15,000
current serial and journal subscriptions (print
and electronic), along with numerous other
electronic resources.
The Main Library is comprised of three
connected buildings: the Bertha and Jacob
Goldfarb Library, the Leonard L. Farber
Library, and the Rapaporte Treasure Hall. The
Goldfarb/Farber Libraries house resources and
services supporting the humanities, the social
sciences, Judaica, creative arts, and
intercultural studies. The Rapaporte Treasure
Hall is the site of many concerts and lectures
during the academic year.
The Judaica Library, located on the
mezzanine level of the Goldfarb Library,
contains one of the country’s most important
collections of reference materials and core
texts in major areas of Judaic studies, the
ancient Near East, and the modern Middle
East. The Judaica book collection includes
over 150,000 titles in Hebrew, Arabic, and
Western European languages.
The Robert D. Farber University Archives
and the special collections department are
located on the second level of the Farber
Library. The Archives houses historical
records documenting the origin,
development, and achievements of the
University and its faculty, staff, and alumni.
The collection includes photographs,
correspondence, rare film, and other
documents. The special collections
department houses rare books and
manuscripts in a variety of subject areas.
The Norman and Rosita Winston Creative
Arts Center is located on the third and fourth
levels of the Farber Library. The Center
houses more than 15,000 music scores and
more than 28,000 sound recordings that may
be used in the listening facility.
The Leo Gerstenzang Science Library, located
in the Science Complex, houses resources and
services that support teaching and research in
physics, chemistry, the life sciences,
mathematics, and computing science.
Information about the Libraries’ collections
and services is available via the World Wide
Web at www.library.brandeis.edu. This
Website serves as the gateway to the online
library catalog LOUIS, and to the electronic
databases, journals, and other resources that
support the University curriculum.
The Libraries are fully wired for Internet
access and offer network connections
throughout the facilities for laptop use. Most
of the electronic resources subscribed to are
available via the campus network, the
Internet, and the Web. These resources may
be accessed through the workstations
provided at the Main and Science Libraries as
well as through any computer linked to the
campus network.
The reference departments of the Main and
Science Libraries offer instruction in library
research skills through several programs,
including the Library Intensive Program,
which provides customized instruction for
upper-level and graduate courses. The
Research Consultation Service is an in-depth
research assistance service available to all
students, faculty, and staff. Professional
reference librarian assistance is also available
online 24/7/365 via the BLC ASK 24/7
service, as well as via email. These online
services are accessible from any computer
connected to the Internet. To find out more
about our research assistance services, visit
www.library.brandeis.edu/reference/
ask.html. The Brandeis University Libraries
also provide Interlibrary Loan and Document
Delivery services to students, faculty, and
staff.
The Brandeis University Libraries are
members of the Boston Library Consortium,
as well as of international organizations such
as the Research Libraries Group. Additional
information on the Libraries may be found on
the Brandeis University Libraries Web page:
www.library.brandeis.edu.
Information Technology Services
The Department of Information Technology
Services offers many of the services that are
central to students’ lives at Brandeis.
Telephone service and telephone billing are
currently located in the lower level of the
Feldberg Communications Building. This
includes long distance service, an individual
phone number and voicemail box for each
student that will stay with them throughout
their career at Brandeis, and other services.
Audiovisual services are located on the third
level of the Goldfarb Library. This group
provides in-classroom equipment such as
overhead and slide projectors, computers and
data projectors, and TVs and VCRs. Audio
and video production, editing, and conversion
are also available.
The Help Desk is located on the upper floor
of the Feldberg Communications Building. It
is also available at phone extension 6UNET
(68638). The University Network (UNet) staff
is available to help you connect to the
University network and use online
University resources, including Library
resources, throughout the school year. The
Help Desk also facilitates hardware repair of
computers when necessary.
The Center for Instructional Multimedia and
Technology is solely for faculty and graduate
student use. CIMTech is located on the top
floor of Farber Library and provides assistance
to faculty in using new technology tools in
their teaching. Services include building Web
pages for classes and maintaining class
mailing lists. CIMTech also manages a
variety of Web Course Tools (WebCT) pages
for more than 50 courses.
The Language Lab is located in the basement
of Shiffman. It provides audio and video tapes
and stations for using them. It also contains
computers that can be used for foreign
language word processing and Web access.
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UNet services provide networking
connections to all dorms (see left.) It also
provides central email and Web page accounts
for all students. Your UNet identity lets you
access a variety of network resources,
including controlling your entry in the
University’s online directory.
Brandeis University Press
Brandeis University Press is a member of the
publishing consortium known as the
University Press of New England, whose
members include Brandeis University,
Dartmouth College, Tufts University, and the
University of New Hampshire. The Brandeis
University Press has published under its
imprint more than 100 titles in a variety of
fields by distinguished scholars and writers
within and outside the Brandeis community.
The principal vehicles through which
Brandeis University Press publishes are the
Tauber Institute for the Study of European
Jewry Series; the Brandeis Series in American
Jewish History, Culture, and Life; and the
Brandeis Series on Jewish Women. Brandeis
University Press also publishes The
Menachem Stern Jerusalem Lectures series
sponsored by the Historical Society of Israel.
In addition, Brandeis University Press
publishes titles outside the series listed
above. Recent and forthcoming books include
Sakharov: A Biography; The Bellstone: The
Greek Sponge Divers of the Aegean; Our
Musical, Ourselves: A Social History of the
American Musical Theater; and Stars of
David: Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Jewish Stories.
The Carl and Ruth Shapiro
Admissions Center
In the modernist tradition of the
International Style of architecture, the Carl
and Ruth Shapiro Admissions Center
provides a dedicated facility for welcoming
and serving prospective students and their
families. Located close to the campus
entrance, the building includes offices for
student interviews, a media presentation
room, and computerized work stations for
processing applications and related
documentation.
Fine and Performing Arts Facilities
Pollack Fine Arts Teaching Center
The Maurice Pollack Fine Arts Teaching
Center, next to the Goldman-Schwartz Art
Studios, is the centerpiece of art history
teaching activities where students, historians,
artists, and scholars meet. The Center is a
place for the most prominent lectures on the
arts at Brandeis, offering state-of-the-art
video, DVD, slide, and data projection.
The Rose Art Museum
The Rose Art Museum serves as New
England’s museum of modern and
contemporary art. The Rose is a cultural and
educational component of Brandeis that seeks
to engage its communities in experiencing
the significant art, artists, and ideas of our
time. In the 2001-02 academic year, The Rose
celebrated its 40th anniversary with the
opening of the Lois Foster Wing. The new
wing doubles the gallery space of The Rose
and permits continuous displays of Brandeis
University’s excellent collection of modern
and contemporary art including important
works by Willem de Kooning, Robert
Rauschenberg, Cindy Sherman, Richard Serra,
and Andy Warhol. Throughout the year The
Rose also hosts a series of dynamic
contemporary art exhibitions. In the 2003-04
academic year, The Rose will present the
work of four contemporary painters
(September-December 2003); a collection
display of abstract expressionist works
(September-December 2003); Domestic
Archaeology (January-March 2004); and the
work of artist Barry McGee (April-July 2004).
Slosberg Music Center
Located near the approach to the campus, the
Bessie Slosberg Music Center includes
classrooms, practice rooms, and office
facilities for the music department. The
center houses the Brandeis Electro-Acoustic
Music Studio (BEAMS) and a recital hall with
carefully designed acoustics. Each year at
Commencement the foyer to the recital hall
is used as an exhibition space where recent
works of student art are displayed. Slosberg
Music Center is the location of the
University’s rich program of the Lydian
String Quartet series, a professional series,
and a myriad of student performances, from
individual recitals to large ensemble. It also
houses the University’s baroque organ.
Spingold Theater Center
The Nate B. and Frances Spingold Theater
Center is a unique and imaginative concept
translated into exciting design. With the
Spingold Main Stage Theater as its hub, the
circular center includes two Spingold smaller
theaters, the Edith Barbara Laurie Theater
and the David Merrick Theater. It also
includes the Joan Crawford Dance Studio as
well as other areas for every facet of the
performing arts: shops for scenery and
costume construction; paint, sound, and
lighting areas; design studios; rehearsal
rooms; dressing rooms; and storage space.
Spacious areas are equipped as classrooms
and offices, and the lobby displays painting,
sculpture, and other treasures. Performances
by the Department of Theater Arts and its
Professional Theater Training, as well as
professional touring groups, are presented
during the academic year for the Brandeis
community as well as theatergoers from the
Greater Boston area. Designed as an adjunct
to the art exhibition facilities of the
University, the Mildred and Albert J. Dreitzer
Art Gallery in the theater center houses
special loan exhibitions as well as periodic
displays of student art work.
Residence Halls
There are nine campus residence areas.
Freshmen are assigned double rooms, except
for the last to make housing deposits—they
will be assigned double rooms temporarily
equipped for three students—in Massell
Quadrangle, North Quadrangle (Leon Court),
or East Quadrangle. The University cannot
honor requests for a specific roommate or for
a roommate with a particular religious or
cultural background. Upperclass students
choose accommodations at room selection
held each spring. Only first-year students and
returning sophomores are guaranteed
housing. In recent years, juniors and seniors
who remained patient and flexible were
accommodated. New transfer students are
offered any remaining housing spaces.
Charles River Apartments
This apartment complex includes the Max
and Ann Coffman Building, the Ollie A.
Cohen Building, the Morton May Building,
and the George I. Lewis Building. Both
undergraduate and graduate students reside in
this apartment complex. Each apartment is
equipped with a full kitchen, common areas,
bath, and a varying number of single
bedrooms. Included in the facility is the
Gornstein Commons Room.
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East Quadrangle
Rosenthal Residence Halls
Sherman Student Center
The East Quadrangle residence halls include
the Henry and Marion Hassenfeld House, the
Lawrence J. and Anne Rubenstein Hall, the
Fred P. and Gerta Pomerantz Hall, the Hyman
and Mary Krivoff House, and Shapiro Brothers
Hall. Each unit has fully equipped student
rooms, several offering views of the Boston
skyline. Located in the Swig Student Center
connected to East Quadrangle is the
Intercultural Center with study space and
computer connection to the main library.
Adjacent to the Massell Quadrangle are three
residence halls consisting of suites,
accommodating a total of 181 students,
which comprise the Anne and David
Rosenthal Student Residence Halls.
The ground floor dining hall of the George
and Beatrice Sherman Student Center serves
over 1,000 students daily and includes the
University’s kosher food preparation and
dining facilities. The upper level includes The
Stein, the campus restaurant, and the
Feldberg Lounge.
Foster Student Living Center
This complex of undergraduate student
housing features apartments built around a
courtyard-duplex format. Each apartment can
accommodate four to six students and is
complete with living room, dining roomkitchen, bedroom-study areas, baths, and
private entrances. The Foster Center is made
up of four clusters of nine units apiece,
including the Frank and Matilda Casty
Residences, the Ben Tobin Residence Hall,
and the Norman and Adele Morris Residence
Hall. These units provide a total of 35
individual apartments and living
accommodations for 182 students.
Massell Quadrangle
Massell Quadrangle consists of the Mr. and
Mrs. Morris Shapiro Hall, the Helen L. Deroy
Hall, the Anna Renfield Hall, the Edyth and
Irving Usen Hall, and the George and Beatrice
Sherman Student Center. Each unit has fully
equipped student rooms. Ground-floor
lounges overlook the central quadrangle and
the walks encircling the Anne J. Kane
Reflecting Pool and the Albert Yakus
Meditation Area.
North Quadrangle (Leon Court)
The Adolf and Felicia Leon Court, also
known as North Quadrangle, contains four
residence halls, as well as the Milton and
Hattie Kutz Hall. Each residence unit
contains fully equipped student rooms and
lounges. Residence halls in this quadrangle
include the Ethel and A.W. Link Scheffres,
the Maurice and Dorothy Gordon, the Robert
P. and Fannie Cable, and the Mr. and Mrs.
Frank H. Reitman halls.
Ridgewood Quadrangle
Ridgewood Quadrangle houses 106 students
in small units with kitchens. The Quadrangle
is comprised of the Louis Emerman; Charles,
Leonard, and Irwin Fruchtman; David, Dan,
and Sadie Danciger; Sidney J. Allen; and
Arthur and Sadie Rosen Residence Halls.
Usen Castle and Schwartz Residence Hall
An imposing structure designed after
medieval architecture and completed a
decade before Brandeis was founded, the
Irving and Edyth Usen Castle has been
remodeled into single and double rooms and
suites. Its ground floor houses the studentoperated coffee house, Cholmondeley’s. On
the second level of the Usen Castle is the
Usen Commons, a circular, conservatorystyle lounge, used for dances and social
functions. Greater Boston spreads out in a
panoramic view from the windows of the
Usen Commons. Schwartz Residence Hall is
a companion structure to the Usen Castle.
The Castle has been listed in the National
Register of Historic Places.
Ziv Quadrangle
The Sy and Gladys Ziv Residence Quadrangle
includes William Mazer Hall among the four
residence halls and a common building. The
four halls accommodate 330 undergraduate
students in 55 suites. Each suite has six
single bedrooms, a living room, and two
bathrooms.
Student Facilities
The Three Chapels
The University’s three chapels—the Leah and
Mendel Berlin Chapel (Jewish), the
Bethlehem Chapel (Catholic), and the
C. Allen Harlan Chapel (Protestant)—serve
the Brandeis community through services
that take place here under the aegis of the
Hillel Foundation, the Bethlehem Chapel
Community, and the Harlan Chapel
Christian Community. Traditional and
innovative services are held regularly.
Hassenfeld Conference Center
The Rita Dee and Harold Hassenfeld
University Conference Center contains a
banquet/lecture room seating 350 to 450 and
six rooms for meetings and conferences.
Benjamin H. and Mae Swig Student Center
Following renovation in 1991, the Swig
Student Center became the home of the new
Intercultural Center with meeting rooms,
offices for clubs and organizations, and a
lounge shared with the residents of nearby
East Quadrangle.
Usdan Student Center
The Nathaniel H. and Suzanne Usdan
Student Center complex incorporates student
social, cultural, and recreational facilities as
well as student and some administrative
services. It is located close to teaching and
residence facilities and houses an assembly
and banquet hall seating 1,000 people, post
office, mailroom, campus cafeteria, lounges,
and conference rooms for formal and informal
student uses.
The Carl and Ruth Shapiro Campus Center
The Carl and Ruth Shapiro Campus Center,
which opened in fall 2002, is the center of
campus for the University community–
students, faculty, administration, alumni, and
guests. Located adjacent to the Hassenfeld
Conference Center and Massell Quad, the
Center includes many group and individual
study spaces, a state-of-the-art theater
designated specifically for undergraduate
theater productions seating 249, a technology
library, a cafe, a television lounge, and the
University Bookstore. Combined with the
Usdan Student Center, and the Intercultural
Center in the Swig Student Center, these
Centers of campus activity represent a
well-considered plan for community life
at Brandeis.
The Division of Student Life maintains a
broad program of cultural, social, and
educational events. The Center also houses
student clubs and organizations, social areas,
Student Events (the major programming
board), WBRS-FM (the radio station), the
Justice (campus newspaper), the Waltham
Group (community services organization),
BTV (Brandeis Television), Student Union
offices, and many more.
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Athletic Facilities
Academic Services
Opened in January of 1992, the Gosman
Sports and Convocation Center is one of the
largest multipurpose, indoor athletic facilities
of its kind in the Northeast. It is part of the
Joseph F. and Clara Ford Athletic and
Recreation Complex, which also includes the
renovated Abraham Shapiro Athletic Center
and the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center.
Academic Advising
The 70,000 square-foot Gosman Center
houses the Red Auerbach Arena, seating
approximately 2,500 for basketball and
volleyball, as well as a 200-meter state-of-theart running track, seven squash courts, three
multipurpose rooms, two weight rooms, a
trophy room, concession area, and
department offices.
The Shapiro Center features three
intramural/recreation courts as well as locker
rooms, saunas, equipment, and training
rooms to serve the entire Ford Complex.
This combination of athletic facilities serves
varsity, intramural, and recreational needs of
the Brandeis community as well as providing
space for concerts, Commencement,
convocations, cultural events, and major
conferences. The athletic facilities also serve
as the home for the New England Revolution
professional soccer team.
The Linsey Sports Center, which is attached
to the Shapiro Center, houses a 25-yard, sixlane swimming pool with one- and threemeter diving boards as well as two
multipurpose rooms, racquetball courts, and
locker rooms with steam and sauna.
Outdoor athletic facilities include the Celia
and Samuel Gordon Field and running track,
the Abraham Marcus Playing Field, and the
Goldie and Maurice H. Rieger Tennis Courts.
Each first-year student is assigned a member
of the faculty or staff to serve as a formal
academic advisor during the first year. Upon
declaring a major, students receive faculty
advisors in their own disciplines. Each
department designates an advising chair to
serve the needs of all students interested in
learning more about academic opportunities
within the department.
Office of First Year Services
Programs and advising services designed to
meet the particular needs of first-year
students are provided by the Office of First
Year Services, located in Kutz Hall, in the
Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
The office coordinates academic advising by
faculty and staff, organizes workshops and
class activities for all entering
undergraduates, and works closely with other
offices and staff to create a supportive
environment for first year students.
Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs
The deans in the Office of Undergraduate
Academic Affairs assist individual students in
planning their undergraduate careers at
Brandeis, and in addressing their problems
and concerns through the Committee on
Academic Standing. Guidance is available in
program planning and the selection of a major
field of study. The office monitors the
progress being made by all undergraduates
toward completion of degree requirements. It
coordinates academic accommodations for
students with disabilities, the Advanced
Placement Program, Cross Registration,
premedical/prehealth advising, and Study
Abroad.
The office provides advising for Brandeis
undergraduate students who seek to enrich
their education through a period of study
abroad. It also maintains a resource library of
materials on available programs. The office
provides information and assistance in
obtaining international study grants available
through Fulbright, Rhodes, Marshall, and
other scholarship and fellowship programs,
including the Sachar International
Scholarships for Brandeis students.
Office of Student Enrichment Services
Programs under the umbrella of Student
Enrichment Services provide learning
assistance and academic support. All services
are designed to maximize every student’s
potential for academic success and
achievement.
Brandeis Tutorial Services: Evening drop-in
tutorial assistance is offered for more than 30
courses in the University, including the 10-,
20-, and 30-levels for languages, introductory
courses for computer science, economics, and
several introductory science courses.
Academic Enrichment Workshops:
Workshops on such learning strategies as
time management, reading college texts,
note-taking skills, and exam strategies are
offered. Workshops are generally offered at
the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.
Student Support Services Program (SSSP): The
SSSP provides intensive academic advising,
tutoring, mentoring, and career and graduate
school counseling to students who are the
first in their families to attend college.
Students must meet certain federal eligibility
criteria to enroll in this federally-funded
TRIO program.
McNair Scholars Program: The McNair
Scholars Program encourages students from
diverse socioeconomic and ethnic
backgrounds to pursue doctoral studies and
consider careers in academia. McNair
Scholars must meet federal eligibility criteria
and are chosen on a competitive basis. The
McNair Program, a federally funded TRIO
program, provides research opportunities and
individualized assistance with securing
admission to graduate school.
Information and Services for Students with
Disabilities
Brandeis University is committed to creating
a diverse community that includes students
with documented disabilities who may
require reasonable accommodations in order
to fully participate in the college experience
and to develop their maximum academic
potential. Since admission to the University
is based on the academic qualifications of the
applicant, admissions procedures remain the
same for all applicants, regardless of
disability. Once accepted, a student seeking
reasonable accommodations must provide
documentation of a learning or physical
disability in order to receive appropriate
services at Brandeis. Documentation of the
disability should be submitted to the
University Health Center or to the
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Psychological Counseling Center for review
and evaluation. Following certification of a
disability, the student should confer with the
Coordinator of Academic Accommodations
for Students with Disabilities in the Office of
Undergraduate Academic Affairs and First
Year Services, or with the disability
coordinator in each of the Graduate Schools,
regarding academic accommodations. The
student should confer with the Office of
Residence Life for housing accommodations.
Reasonable accommodations are determined
on a case-by-case basis in consultation with
the coordinator, the student, and, if
appropriate, with the faculty. Services such
as housing assistance, extra time on exams,
note-takers, adaptive technology, and
special parking arrangements are some of
the possible accommodations that might
be utilized.
International Students and Scholars Office
(ISSO)
The ISSO, located in Kutz Hall, serves
international graduate and undergraduate
students as well as scholars (e.g., faculty,
short-term lecturers, and researchers) who
enter the United States on nonimmigrant
visas. The staff members of the ISSO provide
all necessary immigration documents and
advise international students and scholars on
matters concerning their legal status in the
United States, including extensions of stay,
employment, transfers to and from
Brandeis, and leaves of absence. Advisors are
available daily through drop-in visits or by
appointment to counsel students and scholars
on personal, academic, and immigrationrelated matters throughout the year,
including the summer months.
The ISSO sponsors a range of programs,
including workshops on employment and
immigration issues, coordinates host/student
matching programs, annual trips, and other
events of international interest. The ISSO
publishes a newsletter and maintains a
Website for the international community.
The ISSO supports activities that allow
students and scholars to share their cultures
with the entire Brandeis community.
English as a Second Language Program
Classes and tutorials are offered at Brandeis
to support students for whom English is not
their first language in their efforts to meet the
English proficiency standards necessary for
their success as students and teaching
assistants. Certain students are required to
have their oral and written English skills
evaluated during orientation before the
beginning of classes. These students are
notified in advance. On the basis of the
evaluation process, a student may be advised
to enroll in the English as a Second Language
Program.
International graduate students, who are not
exempted because of previous study in the
United States or in other countries where the
medium of instruction was English, will be
given an oral proficiency interview on which
they must rank at least “advanced low.”
Graduate students who do not achieve this
rank will be advised to take ESL 200a and/or
to have individual tutorials. Students who
rank “advanced low” or higher may still take
ESL 200a and/or have individual tutorials.
The English as a Second Language Program
provides individual tutorial instruction to
undergraduate students and individual and/or
class instruction to graduate students
throughout the academic year. Students do
not earn course credit toward the degree for
this instruction.
Program in Library Research Strategies
As the information environment becomes
more complex, instruction in the effective
use of information resources becomes an
increasingly integral part of education at
Brandeis. Reference librarians provide
classroom sessions for students at various
levels.
The First-Year Library Instruction Program is
part of the University Seminar curriculum.
Each first-year student participates in a
formal session conducted by a librarian in
basic library research skills and strategies.
Students learn methods for analyzing and
approaching research questions, and gain
some experience in using basic resources,
such as the online catalog and general
periodical indexes.
The Library Intensive Program serves the
needs of students in more advanced courses.
Selected upper-level and graduate courses
incorporate library sessions geared
specifically to the course or program content.
These courses offer instruction in the use of
more specialized resources, such as scientific
databases, full text electronic databases,
specialized abstract and indexing services,
archival resources, and Internet resources.
Students are thus equipped to find and
evaluate information from a wide variety of
sources. A list of participating courses
appears in the courses of instruction.
Posse Program
Posse is a four-year leadership scholarship
awarded to talented high school seniors from
New York City. Scholars are selected in the
fall of their senior year in high school and
work together to promote teamwork,
communications, and awareness of a diverse
range of current issues on campus.
Transitional Year Program
The Transitional Year Program at Brandeis
(TYP) offers promising students an additional
year of academic work to supplement their
secondary school preparation. Through
specialized TYP classes and classes in the
broader University, students gain the skills to
be competitive in selective colleges and
universities. Students who successfully
complete the program are recommended for
admission to the University.
Writing Center
Consultants at the Writing Center assist
students with their writing skills.
Consultants work with students on areas
such as focusing ideas, defining topics,
preparing well-organized outlines, revising
rough drafts, and improving stylistic
elements. The Writing Center is located in
the Goldfarb Library. Services are available on
a drop-in basis.
Office of the University Registrar
The Office of the University Registrar,
located in Kutz Hall, is the official repository
of academic records. As such, it issues official
transcripts of students’ records upon written
request, performs other certification
functions of service to students, and audits
the progress of students toward degree
completion. The office conducts activities in
which all students participate: registration
and course enrollment at the beginning of
each term, and pre-enrollment in advance of
each term. Staff members in the office are
useful sources of information concerning
registration, course enrollment regulations,
summer school and transfer of credit policies,
and final examination procedures.
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Student Life
The Office of the Senior Vice President for
Students and Enrollment serves the needs and
interests of students and has broad
responsibility for the services and activities
that enhance the quality of student life
outside the classroom. Among its areas of
concern are undergraduate admissions,
financial aid and student employment,
registrar, institutional research, student
accounts, and student services, including
residence life, career services, student
activities, intercultural programs, counseling,
health services, religious life, and athletics.
The senior vice president serves as an
advocate for students, strives to ensure the
quality of their overall cocurricular
experience at the University, and promotes
opportunities for students to engage in
leadership activities and to experience
personal, social, and emotional growth and
development.
The Dean of Student Life is responsible to the
senior vice president for coordinating the
services of the following departments:
Division of Student Life
With offices located in the Shapiro Campus
Center and in the Usdan Student Center, the
Division of Student Life is responsible for
cocurricular programming; advising,
supporting, and coordinating student groups
and activities; residential programs and
services; the smooth operation of the Shapiro
Campus Center, Usdan Student Center, and
Intercultural Center; a vibrant community
service effort; and other campus programs
such as Orientation and Family Weekend.
The division offices include student
development and judicial education,
residence life, student activities, community
service, the Intercultural Center, and the
dean of student life. The division staff, in
conjunction with students and faculty,
maintains a varied program of social, cultural,
and intellectual events during the academic
year.
More than 85 percent of undergraduate
students live in residence halls. As with all
indoor space at the University, residence
halls are smoke-free. Freshmen are assigned
to double rooms or tripled rooms—called
“lofted rooms” due to the specialized student
furniture within. The University cannot
promise to assign entering students to
specific roommates nor can the University
honor requests for assignment with another
student with a particular religious or cultural
background. Returning students choose
accommodations through a housing selection
process held each spring. Only freshmen and
returning sophomores who participate in the
room selection lottery process are guaranteed
campus housing. In recent years,
upperclassmen not housed in the lottery
found off-campus housing or were eventually
accommodated on campus through a waiting
list process. The Department of Residence
Life maintains landlord information and
resources for students needing off-campus
housing. Entering transfer students are
admitted with the understanding that they
may not be eligible for campus housing. The
Department of Residence Life is responsible
for the effective administrative operation, as
well as counseling and programming
activities, within all residence halls.
Residence halls are grouped into 10 living
areas ranging in size from 26 to 400 students.
Each area is under the supervision of a quad
director. In addition, undergraduate resident
staff “live-in” and aid in the administration
of several residence halls. Staff members are
available to provide assistance to students on
academic, personal, and social matters.
Off-campus housing information and graduate
housing are also functions of this office.
Brandeis University offers a limited number
of housing units available for graduate
students. The apartment units offered include
efficiencies, two-, three-, and five-bedroom
apartments. The efficiencies are designed for
one or two people, while the two-, three-, and
five-bedroom units are designed to allow use
as separate bedrooms with a shared kitchen
and bath. Some of the larger units also have
living rooms. All of the apartments come
furnished.
Housing applications are sent to eligible
graduate students by May 1 and must be
returned to the Department of Residence Life
by June 15.
In addition, the Department of Residence Life
maintains a listing of available housing in the
off-campus area. For additional information,
please visit the Department of Residence Life
office in the Usdan Student Center, call 781736-5060, or consult the Website at
www.brandeis.edu/studentlife.
Intercultural Center
The Intercultural Center, located in the Swig
Student Center, fosters an atmosphere for
learning about the histories and cultures of
people of color; provides a healthy framework
and meeting space for discovery and
strengthening of cultural commonalities;
enables the University to address issues of
race; and provides a structure for the Brandeis
community to interact from a multicultural
perspective. With a student programming
board and a faculty/staff/alumni/community
advisory board, the center sponsors cultural,
social, and intellectual programs open to all
members of the Brandeis community.
Hiatt Career Center
Centrally located in Usdan Student Center,
the Hiatt Career Center serves as a link
between current undergraduates and graduate
students and Brandeis alumni from the
business and professional world. The Hiatt
Center staff assists students in assessing their
interests and skills and exploring how these
components will translate into a meaningful
career path. Students are provided with
individual counseling to identify specific
career goals within the wide range of career
options available for liberal arts graduates. A
full career-resource center includes a wealth
of current career information.
Brandeis students learn about careers in a
variety of ways. An Alumni Speaker Series
and Alumni Network Events are offered
throughout the academic year featuring
recent Brandeis graduates from many
different career fields. Students are also
encouraged to participate in two experiential
programs: the Shadow and Internship
Programs.
The Shadow Program allows undergraduates
to spend a day with a Brandeis alumna/us in
the workplace. Beginning as early as the first
year of their undergraduate career, students
are matched with a Brandeis graduate who
has volunteered to provide a glimpse into his
or her field or work. The Internship Program
offers students more than 22,000 nationwide
opportunities throughout the academic year
and summer months. These internships
provide important experience,
complementing liberal arts coursework.
Brandeis alumni are involved in many of the
Hiatt Center’s programs. The Hiatt Alumni
Mentor Network includes more than 3,000
graduates who volunteer to provide advice
and share professional contacts in their field
of expertise.
A range of programs are offered to support
students in the job search. The Hiatt Center
utilizes an online recruiting system to
provide students with easy access to
employers who are interested in hiring
Brandeis students. Interviews with
prospective employers are arranged through
this system. The Hiatt Center hosts employer
and graduate/professional school visits to
campus throughout the academic year.
Students are individually coached on resume
writing, the job search, and interview skills.
All students are encouraged to make use of
the resources in the Hiatt Career Center as
early as possible in their Brandeis careers.
17
spirit as Brandeis University. In addition,
students have organized club teams in sports
such as ice hockey and lacrosse. Brandeis is a
member of the NCAA, MAIAW, New
England Athletic Conference, Eastern College
Athletic Conference, the Greater Boston
Collegiate Athletic Association, and the
University Athletic Association, which
provides national competition among its
nine-member private research universities.
The University has fielded conference and
national championship teams as well as many
national caliber individual competitors.
Believing in the value of athletic participation
for conditioning and relaxation, the
University maintains a full array of
intramural and recreation programs. The
intramural program has included basketball,
flag football, soccer, softball, squash, tennis,
and volleyball. Residence hall and commuter
teams have been organized in these sports
with the competitive aspects adding to the
enjoyment of the game.
Health Center
Chaplaincy
Religious activities and related programs are
centered in the three chapels and are
conducted by the student religious
organizations: Berlin Chapel/Hillel at
Brandeis University, the Bethlehem Chapel
Community, and the Harlan Chapel
Christian Community. Interfaith dialogue is
an integral part of the programs of the three
chapels.
Hillel, the foundation of Jewish student
community on campus, is a multifaceted and
pluralistic undertaking that embraces and
welcomes Jews of all persuasions and
interests. Hillel actively seeks to engage
Jewish students on their own terms: to
provide them with opportunities to express
themselves Jewishly that are meaningful and
appealing to them. Students are empowered
to take responsibility for their Jewish
identity, whether they wish to participate in
a community service project, express
themselves artistically, participate in a social
event, engage in informal Jewish learning, or
attend religious services. Any students may
participate in Hillel—no membership is
required. Hillel is committed to a pluralistic
vision of Judaism that embraces all
movements.
The Bethlehem Chapel Community serves
the total Catholic community at Brandeis:
students, faculty, and staff. There are Sunday
and daily Masses, hours for private and group
consultation, seminars, study groups, holy
day and feast day programs, and other events.
The Harlan Chapel Christian Community
serves the Protestant community at Brandeis
and presents a variety of services and
programs including religious services, poetry
readings, films, and speakers. The Christian
Fellowship and the Brandeis University
Gospel Choir are under the sponsorship of
Harlan Chapel Christian Community.
The three chaplains serve as advisors to these
groups and are available to all persons within
the University community for personal and
religious counseling and informal exchange.
Athletics
Recognizing the importance of physical
activity in a sound educational program,
Brandeis University offers a wide variety of
competitive and recreational opportunities.
The Intercollegiate Athletic Program provides
a challenging and enjoyable growth
experience for Brandeis student-athletes, as
well as providing a focus for campus spirit
and pride. All full-time students may
participate in annual varsity team tryouts
after completing the required physical
examination.
The University fields varsity teams for men
in baseball, basketball, cross country, fencing,
golf, indoor and outdoor track, sailing, soccer,
swimming and diving, and tennis. Women
compete in varsity basketball, cross country,
fencing, indoor and outdoor track, sailing,
soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis,
and volleyball. The varsity squads compete
against teams representing colleges and
universities that regard athletics in the same
The Brandeis Health Center is operated by
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. A
health center fee, mandatory for
undergraduates and optional for graduate
students, entitles students to medical
services at the Golding Health Center
without additional charge during the
academic year. This annual health fee does
not cover off-campus medical consultations,
dental care, medications, laboratory tests,
drugs, X-rays, reusable supplies, psychological
testing, or hospital admission. These costs are
billed to the student’s insurer. Students are
responsible for these charges if rejected by the
insurer.
During the academic year, the Health Center
is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am
to 8:00 pm and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday
and Sunday. Hours of operation change
during intersession, midterm, spring recesses,
as well as the summer months.
In addition, and separate from the health
center fee, the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts requires each student to have
personal health insurance. Undergraduate
students may elect to participate in the
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) offered
through the University or may have private
insurance. SHIP is an accident or illness plan.
Graduate students may elect to participate in
one of three different insurance plans offered
through the University or may have private
insurance. For additional information on
SHIP please contact the Health Center at 781736-3677.
18
Prospective students planning to matriculate
in the college and graduate schools must
submit a Health Examination Report (HER)
completed by the personal physician prior to
registration. In addition to information about
previous health and details of the physical
examination, evidence of immunization
against tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, and
hepatitis B (undergraduates only) are required.
A skin test for tuberculosis is recommended.
Since students may not register for courses in
the fall until the requirements have been
satisfied, it is strongly recommended that the
Health Examination Report be submitted by
July 30.
Psychological Counseling Center
Established in 1952 as one of the first
university counseling centers in the United
States, the Brandeis Psychological Counseling
Center, located in Mailman House, has
continued to serve as a model for others of its
kind. Founded on the premise that the best
learning occurs in an environment that
supports individual growth, the Center
strives to help students integrate new
information and experiences and expand their
understanding of themselves in the world.
The Center offers the services of a diverse and
accomplished staff that endorses a two-fold
approach to working with students. It
promotes a “wellness” model of care, which
is aimed at helping students anticipate times
of stress and encourages them to ask for help
with their most immediate concerns. No
concern is too large or too small to be met
with respect and care. In addition, the staff
brings skill and expertise to the deeper
developmental and psychological issues that
confront our student population and is
prepared to address these more difficult
emotional conflicts. As an essential and
integral aspect of our efforts to provide an
environment where students are free to seek
help, we maintain the strictest standards of
privacy and confidentiality.
Student Judicial System
The University establishes standards of
student behavior and reserves the right to
suspend or permanently dismiss students
whose conduct warrants such action. The
University will give notice and, if requested,
a hearing before the appropriate body. The
student judicial system is administered by
the Department of Student Development and
Judicial Education. Standards, policies, and
procedures are published in the booklet
Rights and Responsibilities.
Student Activities
Shapiro Campus Center
The Shapiro Campus Center acts as a focal
point for cocurricular and extracurricular
activities for students and others in the
campus community. The Center provides
office space and facilities for student
government and a broad range of student
clubs and organizations. Undergraduate
students play a major role in the operation of
the Center through collaboration with staff
members in the Division of Student Life who
are housed in the building.
Usdan Student Center
The Usdan Student Center is also integral to
the daily lives of students. Usdan houses the
undergraduate mailroom, two cafeterias, and
a convenience store. There are also meeting
rooms, administrative offices, the Graduate
Student Association, and other student
organizations.
Students also serve as members of a variety of
University committees, including the
University Curriculum Committee, the
Personal Safety Committee, the Parking
Appeals Board, the Community Relations
Committee, and the Conservation
Committee. Two undergraduates and one
graduate student also serve as representatives
to the Board of Trustees and the National
Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Student Organizations
A variety of student organizations exists for
all who are interested. Organizations are open
to any matriculated student on the basis of
competency or interest. No exclusive or
secret societies are recognized. Exclusive or
secret societies are inconsistent with the
principles of openness to which the
University is committed. Therefore, social
fraternities and sororities, in particular, are
neither recognized nor permitted to hold
activities on campus or use University
facilities.
Student Government
Public Safety
Brandeis students consider themselves a part
of a community dedicated to the
advancement of liberal values, the
enrichment of life experience, and the
broadening of knowledge. Organized as the
undergraduate Student Union and the
Graduate Student Association, they consider
it their prime responsibility to create
democratic student organization, increase the
flow of new ideas, and provide enjoyable and
creative recreational and cultural activities
for all students.
The Department of Public Safety is located at
Stoneman. Responsibilities of this 25member campus police force include campuswide security/safety patrol, traffic control,
and enforcement of University driving/
parking regulations, protective custody of
University offices, classroom/dormitory
areas, and professional inquiry into incidents
involving theft, trespassing, and related
matters. The department places special
emphasis on preventive and protective care
for all members of the University
community.
The Student Union is the assembly of the
entire undergraduate student body. The
Student Senate, funded through the
mandatory student activities fee, consists of
elected officers and elected representatives
from each class and each residence
quadrangle, meeting regularly to conduct its
business and supervise its programs. The
student programming board, Student Events,
has the responsibility for the allocation of a
portion of the student activities fee to support
social, cultural, and educational programs.
The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is
the assembly of all graduate students. The
Graduate Student Senate consists of elected
officers and elected representatives from each
academic department offering a graduate
degree. Cultural, social, and educational
programs are organized by the GSA
throughout the year. There is a GSA lounge
in the Usdan Student Center.
Automobile Regulations
All students must register their vehicles with
the Department of Public Safety. Students
with motor vehicles must observe University
traffic and parking regulations, copies of
which are available from the Department of
Public Safety. Due to limited space, the
Brandeis Parking and Traffic Committee
strongly recommends that students leave
their motor vehicles at home.
19
The College of Arts and
Sciences
Dining Facilities
Student dining facilities are located in the
Sherman and Usdan Student Centers. Kosher
meal service is available in the Sherman
Student Center, which shares a dining area
with nonkosher meal service. The Usdan
Dining Center offers a number of dining
options including a snack shop and fast food
operation in addition to the normal meal plan
service. Light refreshments are also offered in
Cholmondeley’s, a coffeehouse operated by
students in Usen Castle.
Graduate students should consult dining
services for more details on the dining plan.
The Stein
Located in the Sherman Student Center, The
Stein is a restaurant that offers sandwiches,
light meals, beer, and wine. The Stein is a
popular gathering place for students
throughout the academic year.
The College of Arts and Sciences is the
undergraduate core of the University. The
College comprises 24 departments and
28 interdepartmental programs, which offers
43 majors (p. 30) and 42 minors (p. 37). The
departments and interdepartmental programs
are divided among four schools forming broad
groupings (p. 30) among the disciplines:
Creative Arts, Humanities, Science, and
Social Science. Interdepartmental programs
provide a structured, intellectually coherent
opportunity to explore areas of study that are
interdisciplinary in scope. The range of
departments and interdepartmental programs
offers students and faculty the opportunity
and formal structures needed to explore fields
both in depth and across disciplines. The
structure and offerings of the College
encourage and inspire students and faculty to
pursue a true liberal arts education through
degrees and continuing research endeavors.
Near Eastern and Judaic Studies
281
Philosophy
307
Physical Education
312
Physics
315
Politics
322
Psychology
332
Romance and
Comparative Literature
343
Sociology
350
Theater Arts
364
Interdepartmental Programs
Page
Biological Physics
89
Departments
Page
African and Afro-American Studies
67
American Studies
70
Anthropology
76
Business
102
Biochemistry
84
East Asian Studies
126
Biology
93
Education
133
Chemistry
104
Environmental Studies
152
Located in the Shapiro Campus Center, the
campus bookstore is operated by a private,
non-Brandeis agency. The bookstore, through
close association and coordination with
academic departments and faculty members,
offers students a comprehensive stock of
textbooks and paperbacks related to the
academic program. School supplies, computer
supplies, clothing, health and beauty aids,
and gift items may also be purchased at the
bookstore.
Classical Studies
113
European Cultural Studies
155
Computer Science
121
Film Studies
159
Economics
128
General Science
172
English and American Literature
139
Health and Society
178
Fine Arts
161
Health: Science, Society,
and Policy
180
Post Office and Student Mailroom
German, Russian, and East Asian
Languages and Literature
178
History of Ideas
211
History
200
International and Global Studies
215
Mathematics
258
International Business
219
Music
271
International Studies
232
Internet Studies
234
Faculty Club
The Brandeis University Faculty Club is
located in the Wien Faculty Center. The club
offers membership to all in the greater
Brandeis community and serves as a central
location for formal and informal gatherings.
Luncheon is served Monday through Friday
from noon to 2:00 pm.
Bookstore
The campus mailroom is located in the
Usdan Student Center. All undergraduate
student mail is delivered to the campus post
office, and a separate mailbox is maintained
for each undergraduate student. All graduate
student mail is delivered to the graduate
department where a separate mailbox is
maintained for each student. All U.S. postal
services are provided, including the sale of
stamps and money orders, registry of mail,
handling of parcel post packages, and express
mail delivery.
20
Islamic and
Middle Eastern Studies
235
Admission Requirements for Freshmen
Candidates
Italian Studies
238
Journalism
245
Latin American Studies
248
Legal Studies
250
To be considered for freshman admission a
candidate should be enrolled in a college
preparatory course of study. Students
planning to enter college before the
completion of their secondary school
programs, veterans, or other persons with
equivalency diplomas or special school
backgrounds should write directly to the
director of admissions regarding their interest
and experience.
Linguistics
255
Medieval and
Renaissance Studies
264
Neuroscience
300
Peace, Conflict, and
Coexistence Studies
305
Religious Studies
340
Russian and
East European Studies
344
Social Justice and
Social Policy
348
Women’s Studies
377
Admission to the College of Arts and
Sciences
The University selects new students each
year on the basis of merit, admitting those
individuals whom it believes to be best
prepared academically and personally for the
University’s educational program and most
likely to contribute to and profit from the life
of the Brandeis community. Although it
chooses a class varied in its interests, talents,
and experience, it uses no quotas of any
kind—geographic, racial, religious, or
economic.
In its evaluation of candidates, the
admissions office weighs evidence of
accomplishment and development; school
and teacher statements based on previous
study and experience; relevance to the
application of test results; and impressions
gained through the application.
An adequate course in preparation for
Brandeis should include four years of English;
three years of a foreign language, including
study during the senior year whenever
possible (two years each of two languages is
acceptable but less desirable); three years of
college preparatory mathematics (prospective
science concentrators should present a year of
advanced mathematics); at least one year of
science (chemistry, physics, or biology); and
one year of history. The remaining courses
should generally be in traditional college
preparatory studies. It is recognized, however,
that courses in the creative arts are of value
to students intending to concentrate in these
fields in college.
The Scholastic Aptitude Test (“SAT I” and
“SAT II: Subject Tests”) of the College
Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) are
regarded by the Committee on Admissions as
one of several factors in one’s candidacy and
as a method of evaluating the qualifications
of candidates from different schools and
areas. All candidates must take the SAT I and
three SAT II: Subject Tests, one of which
must be the SAT II: Writing Test. The other
two are of the student’s own choosing. We
recommend that all candidates take the SATs
in their senior year in order to present the
best possible testing results. All tests should
be completed by the end of January of the
senior year. Students may submit results
from the American College Testing Program
(ACT) in lieu of College Entrance
Examination Board testing.
Full information concerning testing may be
obtained from secondary school guidance
counselors or directly from the agencies
administering the exams. For information on
the SAT I and SAT II: Subject Tests, contact
the College Board SAT Program, Box 6200,
Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6200. For
information on the ACT, write the American
College Testing Program, Box 168, Iowa City,
Iowa 52243. The candidate should direct the
CEEB or ACT offices to report scores to the
dean of admissions.
Early Decision
Freshmen candidates who, after careful
consideration of various college options, have
decided firmly that Brandeis is their first
choice, are encouraged to apply for admission
under the Early Decision Plan. Early decision
candidates and their college counselors must
sign a statement on the application indicating
that they understand the implications of the
Early Decision Plan and that the student will
enroll if admitted. Although early decision
candidates may file regular applications to
other colleges, it is with the understanding
that those applications will be withdrawn
when candidates are offered admission to
Brandeis under the Early Decision Plan. All
applications and supporting credentials for
early decision must be received no later than
January 1. Supporting credentials should
include the SAT I and as many SAT II:
Subject Tests as have been completed, or the
ACT. Early decision applicants will be
notified of a decision within four weeks of
the receipt of a completed application.
Further detailed information about the Early
Decision Plan is contained in the admissions
application packet.
Admission Requirements for Transfer
Candidates
The Committee on Admissions welcomes
applications from individuals whose promise
and prior attainment is in keeping with the
opportunity for a continuation of
concentrated scholarly study at Brandeis.
Whenever desired, applicants will be granted
a conference with a faculty member in the
area of academic interest. Some financial aid
is reserved annually for transfer candidates.
Transfer admission is granted solely in
keeping with the University’s degree
requirement of a minimum of two years of
full-time study. To be considered for
admission, a candidate should present, in
applying, evidence of good standing
(academically and personally) in his or her
preceding college and sound reasons for
wishing to transfer.
In its selection of transfer candidates, the
Committee on Admissions gives major
consideration to the quality of college-level
work completed and some consideration to
further evidence of promise for achievement
at Brandeis based on the secondary school
record, personal evaluations by the
appropriate dean and an instructor, and
testing and information conveyed by the
candidate. Candidates should submit either
Scholastic Aptitude Test or ACT scores from
testing completed either during secondary
school or by April of the year of application.
21
Transfer candidates should apply by
November 1 for the spring semester and by
April 1 for the fall semester. International
transfer candidates seeking financial aid must
apply by January 15.
Admission of International Students
International applicants should request
application materials from the Office of
Admissions. To be considered for admission
as an international student, a candidate
should have successfully completed a preuniversity program (the duration of which
was at least 12 years) with strong results on
nationally administered examinations where
applicable. Undergraduate applicants whose
native tongue is English are required to take
the SAT I administered by the Educational
Testing Service at centers throughout the
world. The TOEFL (Test of English as a
Foreign Language) is required of applicants
who are not native speakers of English.
The deadline for receipt of international
applications is January 15 for enrollment the
following September. The deadline for spring
semester admission is November 1.
Candidates for September admission may
apply for financial aid. No financial aid is
available for international candidates for
spring semester admission.
The Wien International Scholarship Program,
created in 1958 by Lawrence A. and Mae
Wien, is designed to further global
understanding, provide international
undergraduate students with opportunities
for study in the United States, and enrich the
intellectual and cultural life of the Brandeis
campus.
The program permits the University to offer a
limited number of undergraduate awards each
year to outstanding incoming students. The
scholarships are based on academic
excellence and will cover the cost of tuition,
fees, and a stipend for books. The remainder
of the award, for room, board, and personal
maintenance, is based upon the student’s
level of eligibility and available funds from
the student and/or the student’s sponsor.
Additional grant, loan, and/or on-campus
employment to meet the full need of each
individual student may be provided,
renewable through completion of the degree.
International applicants are considered for
other University funded merit-based
scholarships as well as limited need-based
awards. Need-based awards are intended to
assist as many students as resources permit
through award packages of grant, on-campus
employment, and loan funds covering part of
the total cost; an International Student
Financial Aid Application must be
completed.
Brandeis Adult Student Option
The Committee on Admissions welcomes
applications from adult students who are
interested in pursuing their B.A. degree at
Brandeis. For a candidate who has been out of
high school or college for a number of years,
the Committee on Admissions looks for
evidence—recent course work (noncredit or
credit), work, or volunteer experience—that
the applicant has remained intellectually
curious and highly motivated. Transcripts
from recent course work are particularly
helpful in providing documentation. Letters
of recommendation from teachers,
supervisors, or colleagues; a personal
statement; and a personal interview give
further evidence of promise for achievement
at Brandeis. No standardized testing is
required but a candidate may submit official
testing if he or she desires.
Brandeis adult students may pay on a courseby-course basis taking as few as one or as
many as five-and-a-half courses per semester
(see tuition section for the rate per course). In
order to receive the baccalaureate, they must
meet all degree requirements, except rate-ofwork requirements, that apply to full-time
students. Credit will be given for course work
done elsewhere if it meets University transfer
credit criteria.
Candidates interested in the Brandeis Adult
Student Option should apply by April 1 for
the fall semester and November 1 for the
spring semester.
Special Student Status
The University accepts as Special Students
for the fall and spring semesters a small
number of persons who are not candidates for
a degree at Brandeis and who wish to elect
one or more courses for which they are
qualified and can demonstrate special need.
This would include students who are degree
candidates at another college or university
wishing to attend Brandeis as visiting
students. Special Student status is subject to
approval on an individual and semester basis.
Students whose academic performance does
not meet Brandeis standards may be denied
permission to register for a second semester.
Neither residence nor financial aid is
available to Special Students, and no special
student may take precedence over a degree
candidate in any limited enrollment course.
Please note that international students in
Special Student status must enroll for a full
course of study.
Persons interested in Special Student status
should apply by July 15 for the fall semester
and by November 1 for the spring semester.
Credit for College-Level Work Done While in
High School
Students may earn credit toward general
education requirements (except academic
residency) for college-level work taken during
American high school study (grades 9-12) or
before entering Brandeis as freshmen. Such
courses must be offered by accredited postsecondary institutions; designed for and
accessible to regular college students and
taught by instructors whose institutional
responsibilities are primarily at the postsecondary level; acceptable for degree credit
at the host institution; and comparable to
Brandeis courses in content, scope, and level
of instruction, as judged by Brandeis faculty.
To receive credit for courses taken at
institutions other than Brandeis, the student
must achieve grades of B- or higher, as
certified by an official college transcript
received by Brandeis, must not have applied
the credit toward high school graduation
requirements. For students in dual
enrollment programs elective courses
exceeding the total number required for high
school graduation will be considered for
evaluation. Students must petition through
the Office of the University Registrar.
Courses that are considered credit-worthy by
sponsoring and cooperating colleges and
universities may not meet Brandeis
requirements.
22
Advanced Placement
applied toward satisfaction of University
degree requirements in the chart below.
Brandeis University participates in the
Advanced Placement Program of the College
Entrance Examination Board. Qualifying
scores necessary to receive credit are
recommended by the academic departments
to their school councils and administered by
the Office of Undergraduate Academic
Affairs.
Generally, especially in the sciences,
advanced placement credit may not be
applied toward satisfaction of requirements
for a major or minor. It may, however, permit
students to begin work in a field at a higher
level. Advanced placement credit may be
Unlike some other languages, there is no
advanced placement exam in Hebrew.
Therefore, the Hebrew Program at Brandeis
offers students who are non-native, have
studied Hebrew in high school, have had no
college-level courses, and have demonstrated
advanced knowledge in the Brandeis Hebrew
placement exam, an opportunity to take an
additional exam for credit. Upon successful
completion of that exam, a student will
receive one course credit. This opportunity is
available to students only at the time they
first enter Brandeis University.
Students who receive qualifying scores and
wish to apply eventually for Brandeis course
credit must contact the College Entrance
Examination Board and request that their
scores be reported to the Coordinator of
Advanced Placement, Office of
Undergraduate Academic Affairs, Brandeis
University, Mailstop 001, P.O. Box 549110,
Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9110.
Brandeis University’s school code number is
3092. Requests for additional information on
the Advanced Placement Program should be
addressed similarly.
Examination
Accepted
Scores
Requirement Met
Concentration
Credit
Semester
Course Credit
Equivalent
Brandeis Courses
Art History
5
School of Creative Arts
Yes
1
None
Biology
5
School of Science
No
1
None
Chemistry*
4, 5
School of Science
Yes
2
CHEM 11a, b, 18a, b
Computer Science AB
5
School of Science
No
1
COSI 11a
Economics: Macro
4,5
School of Social Science
No
1
None
Economics: Micro
4,5
School of Social Science
Quantitative Reasoning
Yes
1
ECON 2a
Environmental Science
4,5
School of Science
No
1
None
English: Language
4,5
None
No
1
None
English: Literature
4,5
School of Humanities
No
1
None
European History
4,5
School of Social Science
No
1
None
French Language
5
Foreign Language
No
0
FREN 30-level
French Literature
5
Foreign Language
No
1
FREN 30-level
German Language
5
Foreign Language
No
1
GER 30-level
German Literature
None
None
No
0
None
Government: U.S.
5
School of Social Science
Yes
1
POL 14b
Latin: Virgil
4,5
Foreign Language
Yes
1
LAT 30-level
23
Advanced Placement Credit
Advanced placement credit is awarded during
a student’s sophomore year. At that time
students are invited by the Office of
Undergraduate Academic Affairs to submit
the paperwork needed for the processing of
the credits. Students who apply Advanced
Placement credits to the Brandeis degree may
not enroll in courses here or elsewhere that
are regarded as equivalent without
experiencing the revocation of the Advanced
Placement credit. Course equivalents are
determined by the academic departments and
posted by the Office of Undergraduate
Academic Affairs.
A maximum of four semester-course credits
may be applied toward the academic
residency requirement from credit awarded
for Advanced Placement exams. Additional
course credits beyond the four semestercourse credits can be awarded and can be used
for placement purposes, general degree
requirements, and major/minor requirements
as allowed by individual departments.
Examination
Accepted
Scores
Requirement Met
Concentration
Credit
Semester
Course Credit
Equivalent
Brandeis Courses
Mathematics AB**
4
5
School of Science
School of Science
No
No
1
2
MATH 10a
MATH 10a, b
Mathematics BC**
3
4,5
School of Science
School of Science
No
No
1
2
MATH 10a
MATH 10a, b
Music Literature
5
School of Creative Arts
No
1
MUS 1a
Music Theory
5
School of Creative Arts
No
1
MUS 5b
Physics B***
4,5
School of Science
Quantitative Reasoning
No
2
PHYS 10a, b
Physics C: Mechanical***
4,5
School of Science
Quantitative Reasoning
Yes
1
PHYS 11a
Physics C: Electrical***
4,5
School of Science
Yes
1
PHYS 11b
Psychology
4,5
School of Social Science
No
1
PSYC 1a
Spanish Language
5
Foreign Language
No
0
SPAN 30-level
Spanish Literature
5
Foreign Language
No
1
SPAN 30-level
Statistics
4,5
Quantitative Reasoning
School of Science
No
1
MATH 8a
U.S. History
4,5
School of Social Science
No
1
None
*Students electing to receive AP credit
for first-year chemistry cannot take
CHEM 11a/b, CHEM 15a/b, CHEM 18a/b,
or CHEM 19a/b for credit.
**Students may elect to receive credit for
either Mathematics AB or Mathematics BC,
but not for both.
***Students may elect to receive credit for
either Physics B or Physics C (Mechanical or
Electrical), but not for both.
Any questions about the use of Advanced
Placement credit should be directed to the
coordinator in the Office of Undergraduate
Academic Affairs.
Note: University policy regarding advanced
placement credit has been modified in recent
years. Accordingly, the value and purpose of
advanced placement credit in a student’s
overall academic program differ according to
the initial date of entry to the University.
Students who entered before the fall of 1994
should consult earlier bulletins, or seek
clarification from the Office of Academic
Affairs.
24
International Baccalaureate
Brandeis recognizes the International
Baccalaureate diploma and will award four
semester-course credits (one semester) for a
total of 30 points on the baccalaureate
examination. The diploma must include three
Higher Level examinations with grades five
or better. If a student has a total of fewer than
30 points or has fewer than three acceptable
Higher Level examinations, Brandeis will
award eight credit hours for each Higher
Level exam with a grade of five or higher (to a
maximum of four semester-course credits).
Additional course credits beyond the four
semester-course credits can be awarded; these
credits can be used for placement purposes,
general degree requirements and major/minor
requirements as allowed by individual
departments, however the additional credits
beyond the four semester-course credits may
not be used toward the academic residency
requirement.
Credit for Foreign School-Leaving
Examination
International students are obliged to supply
the results of their advanced secondary school
examinations to the Office of the University
Registrar for evaluation. Brandeis accepts
credit toward the B.A. or B.S. degree for a
number of such examinations, including the
British Advanced Level examinations, the
German Abitur, the French baccalauréat, and
others; credit is contingent upon level of
performance and details may be obtained
from the Office of the University Registrar.
Credit from such sources will not be applied
to the Brandeis record until the student has
completed two semesters at the University.
Students may not enroll in courses deemed
equivalent to the foreign work without loss of
the foreign credit. A maximum of four
semester-course credits may be applied
toward the academic residency requirement.
Transfer Credit Policies
Transfer students are obliged to supply
official transcripts documenting all previous
college-level work. All such work is
evaluated and each incoming transfer student
is furnished by the registrar with an
evaluation based upon existing faculty
policies. The evaluation will indicate the
number of course credits granted and the
number of degree requirements that have
been met. No more than 16 course credits
may be granted because residence
requirements specify that a minimum of 16
courses in four semesters must be
successfully completed at Brandeis.
Courses must have been taken at accredited,
degree-granting institutions from which an
official transcript has been received. The
courses must be generally equivalent to
courses offered at Brandeis, and the grade
received must be equivalent to at least a C-,
though credit is usually awarded for a “pass”
grade in a system allowing non-letter grades.
Occasionally, credit may be awarded
conditionally, pending successful completion
of a year at Brandeis. Only selected overseas
study programs are acceptable for Brandeis
credit; for further details on the transfer of
credit from overseas study sources, consult
the Office of the University Registrar.
Students may not be concurrently enrolled at
Brandeis during a term in which transfer
credit is sought, except as allowed under the
provisions of cross-registration.
Credit is granted on an equivalent semester
basis with four course credits being awarded
for completion of a normal semester’s work
at the other institution. Normally, one
quarter-course receives no credit, two
quarter-courses are granted one course credit,
and three quarter-courses are awarded two
course credits.
Students who do not initially receive credit
for a particular course taken at another
institution may petition the registrar for
reconsideration. Such a petition requires the
signature of the appropriate Brandeis faculty
member and must indicate the Brandeis
course to which it is considered equivalent.
In an unusual situation, the petition may be
referred to the Committee on Academic
Standing for final resolution.
In determining progress toward the
requirements of a major, departments may
consider only non-Brandeis courses that have
been accepted for degree credit. Departments
may limit the number of such courses that
they will apply toward the major. Rules
governing the application of transfer credit to
majors may differ from department to
department.
Application and Admissions Procedures
For the most current information regarding
admissions procedures and deadline dates,
prospective candidates should consult the
instructions accompanying the application.
The address for the forwarding of all
inquiries, materials, and test results is:
Brandeis University
Office of Admissions
Mailstop 003
P.O. Box 549110
Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9110
781-736-3500 or 800-622-0622
781-736-8502 TTY/TDD
Financial Aid
Brandeis maintains a substantial aid program
consisting of grants, loans, and work awards.
More than 65 percent of the students enrolled
at Brandeis receive University assistance. The
staff of the Office of Student Financial
Services is available to assist parents and
students in planning to finance four years of
undergraduate education.
Financial aid is awarded after a careful
analysis of the family’s ability to support the
student’s costs of education. The analysis is
based on the information submitted by the
family on the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS/Financial
Aid PROFILE. The student’s eligibility for
assistance is determined according to federal
government regulations and University
policies governing financial aid programs.
Included in the analysis is the ability of the
parent(s) and the student to contribute from
both current and future income and assets.
The difference between a family’s ability to
support the student and the actual costs of
education is determined to be the student’s
financial need.
The Office of Student Financial Services
reviews a number of factors in determining
each student’s financial aid award.
Demonstrated financial need, academic
achievement, and geographic and cultural
diversity each play a role in the type and
amount of grant/scholarship assistance
offered. Students should expect some
combination of grant, scholarship, loan, and/
or work awards in their financial aid offer.
Financial Aid Policy
1. Students receiving grant aid will usually be
expected to assume loan and work obligations
as part of a self-help package determined
annually by the Office of Student Financial
Services. Students may request increased loan
and decreased work if loan funds are
available.
2. Financial aid applicants are required to
apply for the Federal Pell Grant and state
scholarship programs where available.
Brandeis is unable to replace with University
funds non-University aid that students are
eligible to receive, but for which they fail to
apply.
25
3. Outside awards received from federal and
state programs may result in a dollar-fordollar reduction in Brandeis Grant and
Trustee Scholarship funds. Outside awards
received from non-governmental sources,
even if based on criteria exclusive of need,
will first be used to fulfill any unmet federal
financial need. Any outside award amount in
excess of unmet federal financial need will
reduce the self-help (loan and work) and then
grant components of the student’s need-based
award. Students receiving need-based or
merit-based aid will not be permitted to keep
outside awards in excess of the total cost of
attendance.
The above policy will be applied to outside
awards received by any Brandeis student
regardless of class year. All awards should be
reported in writing to the Office of Student
Financial Services.
4. All students must reapply for financial aid
each year. Students receiving any type of
federal aid must file the Renewal Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA),
which will be mailed to each student’s
permanent address during the winter
intersession. Students receiving Brandeis
Grant or Trustee Scholarship funds must also
provide copies of student and parent tax
returns. The University may also require
verification of certain application items
including, but not limited to, the student’s
academic year residence status and the
enrollment of siblings at other post-secondary
institutions. The priority filing date for
applying for renewal of financial aid is
April 1.
While it is expected that financial assistance
will be continued each year of the student’s
undergraduate enrollment, the form and/or
amount may change in subsequent years to
reflect changes in financial need, federal and
University funding, and other circumstances.
An increase in the amount of loan in the
financial aid package should be anticipated.
5. Upperclass students who wish to apply for
financial aid for the first time must file the
FAFSA and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE
as well as submit copies of student and parent
tax returns. The University may also require
verification of certain application items
including, but not limited to, the student’s
academic year residence status and the
enrollment of siblings at other post-secondary
institutions. The priority filing date for
applying for financial aid is April 1.
6. First-year students who receive any type of
federal aid must file the FAFSA before any aid
can be credited to their student account.
First-year students who receive Brandeis
Grant or Trustee Scholarship funds must also
provide copies of student and parent tax
returns. The University may also require
verification of certain application items
including, but not limited to, the student’s
academic year residence status and the
enrollment of siblings at other post-secondary
institutions.
7. If a student changes his or her academic
program (i.e., taking less than 12 credit hours
[which equates full-time status], studying
abroad or elsewhere domestically, graduating
in less than four years, graduating in more
than four years, or taking a leave of absence),
there may be implications for the amount and
type of financial aid that the student can
receive. If a student is considering any of the
above options, they should consult a financial
aid counselor first to discuss the impact that
it may have on their financial aid eligibility.
8. Federal regulations require that a student
receiving federal assistance make satisfactory
academic progress in accordance with
standards set by the University. Brandeis
delegates the responsibility to monitor
academic progress to the Committee on
Academic Standing and charges it to make
such determinations on the basis of
individual merit, and not in relationship to
some arbitrary numerical standard. The
committee thoroughly reviews the records of
students whose performance was
unsatisfactory, i.e., more than one D and/or
one or more E or F, at the conclusion of each
semester. Students whose progress has been
judged unsatisfactory and whose withdrawal
has been required by the Committee on
Academic Standing shall be accorded a
reconsideration by that body in the presence
of new information, judged to be relevant by
the dean of the college or his/her designee.
Should a required withdrawal action be
rescinded on appeal, financial aid eligibility
shall be reinstated. Any student permitted by
the committee to register for the following
semester is considered to be making
academic progress and is eligible for financial
aid from federal and University sources.
However, since an ability to complete the
degree within eight semesters is a measure
commonly applied by the committee in
making these determinations, students are
advised to consult the sections of the current
University Bulletin pertaining to class
standing (under “Academic Regulations”).
Loans
1. Federal Perkins Loan Program—Interest is
not charged and repayment is not expected
while the recipient is enrolled. During
repayment, interest is at a fixed rate of five
percent per year, and repayment may be made
over a 10-year period. Cancellation of a
portion of the aggregate loan is available for
service as a teacher of the handicapped, or in
a low-income school district. The number of
Perkins Loans is limited and reserved for the
most needy students.
2. Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program—
This program enables eligible undergraduate
students to borrow up to $2,625 during the
first year, $3,500 in the second year, and
$5,500 in the third and fourth years. All
students, regardless of family income, must
submit a Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA) and a Verification Worksheet (if
required) in order to be eligible for a Federal
Direct Stafford Loan. Students are notified of
their eligibility for this loan program on the
financial aid award letter.
There are two different forms of this loan: the
Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan and
the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford
Loan
Loan. Interest and repayment are deferred on
the Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan
while the borrower attends college on at least
a half-time basis. Although repayment is also
deferred on the Federal Direct Unsubsidized
Stafford Loan while the borrower is enrolled
on at least a half-time basis, interest accrues
on this loan from the time the loan funds are
disbursed. The interest may be deferred and
capitalized. Six months after the cessation of
half-time enrollment, the borrower begins a
10-year repayment period (other repayment
options are available) during which time
interest is charged to the student. Contact the
Office of Student Financial Services for
current interest rate information.
Borrowers of the above loans must obtain and
complete the required promissory notes, as
well as any supplemental loan forms, at the
beginning of their entering semester upon
receipt of correspondence from the Office of
Student Financial Services. Anticipated
credits on a student’s account will be
cancelled if all required forms are not
completed. The terms of the above loan
programs are subject to federal legislation and
may be changed.
26
Title IV Cancellation
If you have been awarded a student loan
(Federal Direct Stafford or Perkins) or parent
loan (PLUS or MEFA), you have a right to
cancel all or a portion of your loan or loan
disbursement. To do so, please submit a
written request to: Office of Student
Financial Services, Brandeis University,
Mailstop 027, P.O. Box 549110, Waltham,
MA 02454-9110.
A request for loan cancellation or adjustment
must be made before the end of the academic
year or prior to leaving school—whichever
comes first—and must state which loan(s)
and what amount(s) you wish to cancel.
Cancellation of your awarded student loan(s)
will most likely create a balance due on your
account. This balance would be due and
payable upon receipt of the statement.
Student Employment
The student employment section of the
Office of Student Financial Services seeks to
provide work opportunities to students
seeking work on campus and in the Waltham
area. This service is available to students,
regardless of whether or not they are
receiving financial aid. Students who receive
job allotments as part of their financial aid
package will have priority for jobs but many
non-aided students find campus employment.
Potential job earnings are not deducted from
billed charges from the University at the
beginning of each term. Students receive
paychecks based on hours worked.
Financial Aid to Transfer Students
Financial aid is available for students entering
Brandeis as transfer students from other
institutions of higher education. Applicants
who cannot afford to attend Brandeis without
financial assistance should submit the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA),
and a CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE. The
application for financial aid is due at the
same time as the application for admission.
Fees and Expenses
Financial Implications of Course Load
Variation
Financial Regulations
Extra tuition charges are not incurred when
course loads are within maximum rate of
work limits, nor are charges reduced or
refunds applied for course loads below the
normal rate of work. Students who are
granted special permission by the Committee
on Academic Standing to undertake course
schedules in excess of maximum rate of work
limits will incur extra tuition charges
calculated at the per course tuition rate for
the year in which the course is taken.
Any student with outstanding financial
obligations will be denied the privileges of
attending classes and using University
facilities. Every student must satisfy his or
her financial obligations in full to the
University in order to receive certification of
graduation. Official transcripts and
certifications will be withheld until financial
obligations to the University have been
discharged. Failure to discharge financial
obligations includes, but is not limited to,
delinquency of a borrower in repaying a loan
administered by the Office of Student
Financial Services and the inability of that
office to collect such a loan because the
borrower has discharged the indebtedness
through bankruptcy proceedings.
Application, Matriculation, and Orientation
Fees
Each application for first-year or transfer
admission must be accompanied by a fee of
$55. All application fees are nonrefundable
and cannot be credited toward other fees.
A nonrefundable matriculation deposit of
$500 must be filed by each candidate upon
notification of acceptance. This deposit
reserves a place in the class and the option of
applying for first-year housing and is credited
toward the first semester tuition bill. If the
student fails to enroll or withdraws his or her
application, the matriculation deposit is
forfeited.
New students are charged a nonrefundable
mandatory orientation fee, ranging from
$75 to $150.
Tuition
The tuition fee for 2003-04 is $28,999 and the
fee for each semester course required for
degree credit is $3,625.
Library privileges and use of athletic facilities
for the academic year are included in the full
tuition fee.
Students who return to the University after
withdrawing will pay the prevailing tuition
and other fees. In view of the constantly
increasing costs of education, students may
expect tuition increases during their
academic careers.
Questions regarding the financial
implications of course load variation should
be directed to the Office of the University
Registrar. Questions regarding the billing
schedule should be directed to the Office of
Student Financial Services.
Room and Board Fee
The total charges for a standard dormitory
room (double occupancy) and a 14-meal per
week board contract for the 2003-04 academic
year are $8,323. Other meal contract options
are available.
For upperclass students, other living
accommodations are available at annual rates
ranging up to $1,525 more than the standard
dormitory room (double occupancy) rate of
$4,675.
Returning upperclass students must make
their advance deposits of $200 during the
spring room drawing.
Students residing in dormitory rooms must
sign room licenses and board contracts
binding for the full academic year. Students
residing in either of the apartment complexes
must sign room licenses binding for the full
academic year; board contracts are available
to, but not required of, these students.
Nonresident students may eat in the
University dining halls on a cash basis.
Transcript Fee
Students are entitled to 20 official transcripts
of their academic work without charge.
A charge of $5 will be made for each
subsequent transcript. The student will pay
the transcript fee in advance at the Office of
the University Registrar (Kutz Hall). Official
transcripts will be issued only to those
students whose financial records with the
University are in order.
27
Other Fees
Refunds
The following are other mandatory annual
fees for 2003-04:
A student who leaves the University without
the approval of the Office of Undergraduate
Academic Affairs is not entitled to a refund.
withdrawal date of a student who dropped out
without notifying the University due to
circumstances beyond the student’s control,
such as illness, accident, or grievous personal
loss.
1. Student Activities fee, $290.
2. Student Health Service fee, $411.
3. Technology fee, $175.
4. Student Health Insurance Plan (single
coverage), $898. Mandatory unless proof of
other coverage is provided.
There are other University fees that a student
may incur for specific services or failure to
meet commitments. These fees include but
are not limited to the following for 2003-04:
1. Laboratory fees, $15-50.
For approved or required leaves, withdrawals,
suspensions, or dismissals, the date of
departure will be considered to be that which
is approved by the Office of Undergraduate
Academic Affairs.
All requests for refunds must be in writing
and are subject to review and final approval
by the Office of Student Financial Services.
Approved refunds follow this schedule:
1. Tuition Withdrawal
Before the opening day of instruction: 100%
of semester tuition.
2. Studio fees, $10-80.
3. Medical school application processing fee,
$50.
4. Monthly payment plan fee, $100.
On or before the second Friday following the
opening day of instruction: 75% of semester
tuition.
5. Parking fees, $35-150.
On or before the fifth Friday following the
opening day of instruction: 50% of semester
tuition.
6. Study abroad fee, $300 (semester) or $500
(academic year).
After the fifth Friday following the opening
day of instruction: no refund.
7. Senior fee, $27.
2. Fees
8. Returned Check fee, $25.
There is no refund of any other fee on or after
the first day of instruction of either semester.
9. Late fee, $300-500.
3. Room and Board Charges
Payment Plans
Semester Plan
The first semester bill will be issued during
July and payment will be due on or before
August 1, 2003; the second semester bill will
be issued during November and payment will
be due on or before January 3, 2004.
Monthly Payment Plan
Academic Management Services (AMS) has
contracted with Brandeis to administer the
monthly payment plan. The application and a
nonrefundable handling fee of $100 must be
returned to AMS by July 15, 2003. The
payment plan electronic withdrawals will
begin on August 1, 2003.
Refund of room and board contract charges
are determined in accordance with the terms
outlined in the contract.
4. Financial Aid
When a student withdraws during a period in
which he or she is receiving federal financial
aid, the amount of Title IV funds (other than
FWS) that must be returned to the Title IV
programs is based solely on the length of time
the student was enrolled prior to
withdrawing. A student’s withdrawal date is
defined as the date that the student began the
withdrawal process prescribed by the school;
the student otherwise provided the school
with official notification of the intent to
withdraw; or, for the student who does not
begin the school’s withdrawal process or
notify the school of the intent to withdraw,
the mid-point of the payment period of
enrollment for which Title IV assistance was
disbursed (unless the University can
document a later date). The University has
additional latitude to determine the
The amount of funds earned by the student is
directly proportional to time enrolled,
through 60% of the period of enrollment.
After 60%, the student is considered to have
earned all aid. Unearned Title IV aid must be
returned to the programs. The University
bears the responsibility of returning funds up
to the lesser of the unearned amount or an
amount determined by multiplying
institutional costs by the unearned
percentage. The student must return any
unearned amount that is not the
responsibility of the University to return.
Unearned funds are returned first to Stafford
Loans, then to Perkins Loans and then to
PLUS Loans. Once loans are satisfied,
remaining unearned funds are distributed to
Pell Grant, then to FSEOG, then to other
Title IV funds that require a refund. The
student repays unearned funds owed to a loan
program under the terms of the promissory
note. Repayments to grant programs are made
according to grant overpayment regulations.
If a student received aid from other (private,
state) sources, refunds to them will be made
in accordance with the policy of the donor(s).
The refund remaining after any funds are
returned to federal and outside programs will
be divided between the student and
University financial aid programs in the same
ratio as these sources were credited to the
student’s account (e.g., if a student paid onehalf of the bill, one-half of the remaining
refund will be returned to the student and
one-half will be returned to the University
financial aid programs from which the
student received assistance. For students
whose financial aid awards exceed the
University’s charges (e.g., students who live
off campus), funds that were dispersed to
support educationally related expenses (e.g.,
room, board, books, etc.) must be repaid on a
prorated basis determined by the University.
Further information on the refund policy for
aided students and the calculation for any
specific case is available from the Office of
Student Financial Services.
28
Requirements for the
Undergraduate Degrees
Brandeis offers the Bachelor of Arts and the
Bachelor of Science degrees. A student may
earn only one undergraduate degree. Students
who declare a major that offers a Bachelor of
Science track must specify which degree is
sought (the B.A. or B.S.) when the major is
declared. Undergraduate degrees are awarded
once a year in May. Diplomas specify the
degree earned, any honors awarded (latin and/
or departmental), and completed majors.
All candidates for a bachelor’s degree,
regardless of date of entrance to Brandeis,
must satisfactorily complete a major, a
writing requirement, a foreign language
requirement, a group of courses designed to
provide a strong foundation in general
education, and the physical education
requirement. No courses used to fulfill any
general University requirement may be taken
on the pass/fail grading option. No more than
one course (and never the final one) in the
foreign language sequence may be taken pass/
fail if the language is being offered in
satisfaction of the foreign language
requirement.
Students will follow a curriculum that
features requirements in foreign language,
writing, quantitative reasoning, non-Western
and comparative studies, and a new program
of general foundation courses; the section at
the back of this Bulletin with the patterned
edge contains the courses that will satisfy
these requirements. Clarification regarding
University degree requirements may always
be obtained from the Office of the University
Registrar.
C. Up to four of the 32 semester courses
(equivalent of one full semester, the eighth)
may be completed by any combination of
credits from the following:
1. Courses taken at Brandeis University in
excess of 28 (in excess of 24 for study abroad
students) during any fall or spring semester or
in Brandeis University Summer School.
2. Study abroad in a second semester of a
Brandeis University approved program.
3. Advanced Placement exams.
4. International Baccalaureate exams.
Options for Earning 32 Course Credits
(each option totals eight semesters)
B. At least seven full-time fall or spring
semesters (28 semester courses/112 semester
hour course credits) must be completed in
residence at Brandeis University or in an
approved Brandeis University program (e.g.,
Study Abroad Program). Students who elect
to study abroad must complete at least six
semesters in residence at Brandeis University
(24 semester courses); a study abroad
semester (four courses) may count as the
seventh Brandeis University semester. A
second study abroad semester (four additional
courses) or an additional semester at Brandeis
University may count as the eighth semester
(see option 3 in table below).
Students who have completed the academic
residency requirement and all other
requirements for the bachelor’s degree may
apply to enroll for one semester on Senior
Reduced Rate status.
Brandeis
Semesters
Study
Abroad
Semesters
Set of 4
Courses*
Students who entered Brandeis as freshman
prior to August 2003 should consult the
University Bulletin published the year they
entered.
8 fall or
spring
semesters
0
0
The Schools of the University
2.
7 fall or
spring
semesters
0
1
3.
7 fall or
spring
semesters
1 fall or
spring
semester
0
4.
6 fall or
spring
semesters
1 fall or
spring
semester
1
5.
6 fall or
spring
semesters
2 fall or
spring
semesters
0
1.
Academic Residency Requirement
A. Students entering Brandeis University as
freshmen in August 2003 and thereafter are
required to complete 32 semester courses
(equivalent to eight full-time fall or spring
semesters or 128 semester-hour course
credits).
college courses taken while in high school, or
summer courses taken outside of Brandeis
University may be used for placement
purposes, general degree requirements (e.g.
school distribution, foreign language), and
major/minor requirements as allowed by
individual departments and programs.
Note: Credits awarded for college courses
taken while in high school, or summer
courses taken outside of Brandeis University
may not be used for the academic
residency requirement.
*From any combination of sources detailed
in point C above.
While students may repeat, for the purpose of
demonstrating a higher level of mastery,
courses in which a passing grade already has
been earned, such repeated courses do not
yield additional credit toward the degree and
are not applied toward the residency
requirement.
Course credits awarded for AP, IB exams,
Within the College of Arts and Sciences,
courses are offered by academic departments
to support educational programs and
objectives that are departmental,
interdisciplinary, and University-wide in
scope. Academic departments reside in
schools: the School of Creative Arts, the
School of Humanities, the School of Science,
and the School of Social Science. Because the
organization of undergraduate degree
requirements makes reference to this school
structure, it is important that students
familiarize themselves with it. The section
below devoted to majors outlines the school
membership of various academic
departments. Most typically, the courses
offered by a department will have
membership in one school, that in which the
department resides. Some courses, however,
may have membership in more than one
school. Also, some interdisciplinary areas do
not fit neatly into a single school; individual
courses within such areas may reside in
different schools. The school membership of
courses has been incorporated into the
“requirement codes” appearing in the course
listings. A legend for the codes may be found
in the “Requirement Codes” section of this
Bulletin. The course offering booklets
published each fall and spring also indicate to
which schools particular courses belong. If in
doubt about the school membership of a
particular course, consult the Office of the
University Registrar.
29
Double Counting
The basic outline of the requirement
structure is as follows:
In the undergraduate curriculum, it is
intended that courses will serve multiple
purposes in a student’s program. Specifically,
students are encouraged to satisfy some
general University requirements (e.g.,
writing, quantitative reasoning, non-Western
and comparative studies, and school
distribution) in the context of completing a
major, or a minor.
A. University Seminar in Humanistic
Inquiries
All students in their first year will complete
one semester course from this program.
These courses enable participants to engage
fundamental questions about human
existence and meaning through the critical
study of significant texts or artistic creations.
This course may or may not be designated as
a USEM+W course; those that are designated
as USEM+W may be used to satisfy Option I
of the first year writing requirement (see
“University Writing” below).
Some majors, however, limit the degree of
“double counting” between and among
majors and minors. Students pursuing double
majors, or other combinations of majors and
minors, are advised to consult with all
appropriate undergraduate advisors to come
to a mutually acceptable degree of overlap.
Between and among general University
requirements, the only limitations on double
counting are as follows: University Seminars
in Humanistic Inquiries are interdisciplinary
in character; they do not have membership in
any specific school of the University. The
three course foreign language sequence may
not be applied toward the school distribution
in the humanities. No single course in a
student’s program may satisfy both the
quantitative reasoning requirement and the
science component of the school distribution
requirement. No course numbered in the 90s
may apply toward the school distribution
component. Finally, a single course may be
used toward school distribution in only one
school.
General University Requirements
A strong, general education foundation is
built through work in a variety of
interconnected elements. The fundamental
goals of the program are to improve students’
abilities to integrate knowledge from
different fields; to provide opportunities for
the acquisition and development of writing,
linguistic, and quantitative skills; to
introduce flexibility in the scheduling of
degree requirements throughout the
undergraduate career; and to expand students’
opportunities to interact with faculty in
small class settings in the first year of
instruction.
B. University Writing
The writing requirement is satisfied by
completing one of the following options:
Option I: One University Seminar in
Humanistic Inquiries Plus Writing
(USEM+W) taken in the first year, plus two
writing intensive courses. The USEM+W
course has a fourth hour of instruction
focusing on composition that is closely
linked, thematically and stylistically, to the
academic disciplines that define the context
and content of the course.
Option II: One University Writing Seminar
(UWS) taken in the first year, plus one
writing intensive course, in addition to one
University Seminar in Humanistic Inquiries
(also taken in the first year—see [A] above).
The UWS is a full-credit course specifically
dedicated to writing as a subject in its own
right; it treats writing as a multifaceted art
and gives students an opportunity to study
and experiment with a broad range of writing
styles.
All first-year students will thus complete
either a USEM+W or a UWS course. Both
courses place special emphasis on forms of
argumentation. Other areas of attention
include critical reading, essay structure,
revising, research skills, and proper
documentation.
Over the summer, some students may be
notified that they must take a placement test
to determine their level of writing
proficiency. Upon evaluation of the test,
some students may be placed in Composition,
a course taken in the fall semester. These
students will then take either a USEM+W or
a UWS and USEM in the spring semester.
Certain students whose native language is
not English may be required to have their
English writing skills evaluated and to have
an interview during orientation before the
beginning of classes. On the basis of this
evaluation, students may be advised to sign
up for an individual, noncredit tutorial in the
English as a Second Language Program to
supplement their work in composition, the
University Seminar, the University Writing
Seminar, or other writing courses. Transfer
students may have their credits evaluated to
see if they have successfully completed the
necessary course to satisfy the first-year
writing requirement. If they have not, they
should see the director of University writing,
in the English department, for alternative
ways to complete this requirement.
The writing-intensive component of the
writing requirement is normally completed in
a student’s second or third year. Writingintensive courses, which are offered in
departments throughout the University, are
based in academic disciplines and include
writing as an integral part of the course work.
They involve frequent writing assignments,
opportunities for rewriting, and consultations
with the instructor. Writing-intensive courses
may serve multiple purposes, advancing
students toward majors, minors, non-Western
and comparative studies, or distribution
requirements. Courses numbered in the 90s
shall not be eligible for a writing-intensive
designation.
C. Quantitative Reasoning
All students will take one course that is
designated as meeting the quantitative
reasoning requirement. These courses from
various disciplines share a commitment to
enabling students to understand, interpret,
analyze, and evaluate numerical data and
other quantitative information.
D. Foreign Language
The foreign language requirement is met by
successful completion of a third semester
course (normally numbered in the 30s) in the
introductory language sequence. No more
than one course (and never the final one) in
the sequence may be taken on the pass-fail
grading option.
The foreign language requirement at Brandeis
reflects a belief in the importance of
understanding language—our own and the
language of others—as central to society and
culture. The goal of the foreign language
requirement, therefore, is to prepare students
to understand better and to participate in a
foreign culture by developing basic skills
(speaking, listening, reading, and writing) in
another language.
30
Alternatively, the requirement may be
satisfied by achieving a score of 4 or 5 on an
appropriate Advanced Placement Test, by a
score of 62 or more on the appropriate CEEB
SAT II test, or by a satisfactory score on a
foreign language placement test administered
on campus in the fall. Local placement exams
may be taken only at the time of
matriculation at Brandeis. Students for whom
English is a second language may be
exempted from this requirement. Students
who satisfy the requirement by means of an
advanced placement score shall be accorded,
upon request, appropriate credit toward the
Brandeis degree. Students may also fulfill this
requirement by demonstrating proficiency in
American Sign Language through testing at a
site approved by Brandeis.
Individual placement decisions vary
depending on the quality of high school
training, the level of performance, and how
recently the language was studied. Foreign
language placements are valid for one year
only; subsequent placements are based on the
mandatory placement examinations and
consultation with the appropriate language
coordinator. Students are urged to begin
fulfilling the foreign language requirement as
soon as they matriculate and to complete the
required sequence without interruption.
E. Non-Western and Comparative Studies
Students will complete one semester course
that examines some particular culture,
society, or region of the non-Western world,
or that systematically makes comparisons
across cultural barriers. This requirement
aims to enlarge students’ understanding of
human achievements and potentialities
beyond the Western tradition.
F. School Distribution
Students will complete one semester course
in each of the four Schools of the University:
Creative Arts, Humanities, Science, and
Social Science. Because “double counting”
generally is encouraged, most students will
satisfy the school distribution requirement in
the context of others, e.g., in satisfying the
requirements of a major or a minor. Between
and among general University requirements,
the only limitations on double counting are
as follows: University Seminars in
Humanistic Inquiries are interdisciplinary in
character, and have membership in no
specific school of the University. The threecourse foreign language sequence may not be
applied toward the humanities component of
this requirement. No single course in a
student’s program may satisfy both the
quantitative requirement and the science
component of this requirement. No courses
numbered in the 90s may apply toward this
component. Finally, a single course may be
used toward school distribution in only one
school.
Majors
General Requirements
To obtain a bachelor’s degree in the College
of Arts and Sciences, students must complete
the requirements of a major. Students are
encouraged to choose an intended major after
consultation with a faculty advisor in that
department by the end of the first year, and
required to do so by the end of the sophomore
year. Students who have not declared a major
by the end of their sophomore year will have
a registration hold placed on their records
blocking registration for the fall term of their
junior year.
Certain departments permit qualified
students to offer a limited number of related
courses in other fields toward their major
requirements. This option is open to students
able to present a purposeful and coherent
course of study as judged by the department;
such requests are subject to rigorous
examination. Students should consult
individual departmental listings.
Students may complete a second or a third
major in addition to their primary major.
Completion of the second or third major
must take place within the normal time
allotted for completion of the bachelor’s
degree (eight semesters for students entering
as freshmen). The time to degree for transfer
students is less and is determined based on
the number of credits initially transferred
upon entry. Students may declare a
maximum of three majors. Declared majors
appear on the student’s transcript, and
completed majors appear on the transcript
and diploma.
Completion of a Major
To enroll in courses fulfilling major
requirements, students must have received a
C- or better in prerequisite courses.
A 2.00 (C) average is normally required in
courses offered for completion of
requirements for a major.
Majors
African and Afro-American Studies
American Studies
Anthropology
Art History
Biochemistry
Biological Physics
Biology
Chemistry
Classical Archaeology and Ancient History
Classical Studies
Comparative Literature
Computer Science
Creative Writing
East Asian Studies
Economics
English and American Literature
European Cultural Studies
French Language and Literature
German Language and Literature
Greek Language and Literature
Health: Science, Society, and Policy
Hebrew Language and Literature
History
International and Global Studies
Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies
Italian Studies
Latin American Studies
Latin Language and Literature
Linguistics
Mathematics
Music
Near Eastern and Judaic Studies
Neuroscience
Philosophy
Physics
Politics
Psychology
Russian Language and Literature
Sociology
Spanish Language and Literature
Studio Art
Theater Arts
Women’s Studies
School of Creative Arts
Courses in the School of Creative Arts teach
the history of the visual and performing arts,
engage students in the creative process itself,
and develop artistic skills and aesthetic
sensibilities. Requirements for majors in each
department are listed on the pages indicated.
161
Fine Arts
271
Music
364
Theater Arts
Candidates for honors must have the approval
of the appropriate department.
31
School of Humanities
The School of Humanities offers the
undergraduate a systematic introduction to
our literary and philosophical heritage.
Requirements for majors and honors are
listed on the pages indicated.
113
Classical Studies
117
Comparative Literature
139
English and
American Literature
155
European Cultural
Studies
169
175
183
235
French Language and
Literature
German Language and
Literature
Hebrew Language and
Literature
Islamic and
Middle Eastern Studies
School of Social Science
The School of Science provides the basic
scientific training preparing students for
entry into graduate school or for work at the
intermediate level in their scientific fields.
Students are encouraged to take such courses
outside the School of Science as will best
broaden and further their intellectual growth.
Requirements for majors are listed on the
pages indicated.
84
Biochemistry
89
Biological Physics
93
Biology
In addition to the basic coverage of the social
sciences provided by the departmental
disciplines noted below, the School of Social
Science supports cross-disciplinary programs
such as education; environmental studies;
film studies; health and society; history of
ideas; Islamic and Middle Eastern studies;
international studies; journalism; legal
studies; medieval and renaissance studies;
peace and conflict studies; Russian and East
European studies; and social justice and social
policy. The major in neuroscience is
supported by various members of the
psychology department. Requirements for
majors are listed on the pages indicated.
104
Chemistry
67
African and
Afro-American Studies
121
Computer Science
70
American Studies
258
Mathematics
76
Anthropology
300
Neuroscience
126
East Asian Studies
315
Physics
128
Economics
180
Health: Science,
Society, and Policy
238
Italian Studies
200
History
281
Near Eastern and
Judaic Studies
248
Latin American Studies
307
Philosophy
255
Linguistics
345
Russian Language and
Literature
322
Politics
360
Spanish Language and
Literature
332
Psychology
350
Sociology
377
Women’s Studies
At Brandeis, the following ancient languages
are offered: Akkadian (the Semitic language
and literature of Assyria and Babylonia
preserved in cuneiform), Greek, Biblical
Hebrew, and Latin.
School of Science
A student in the School of Social Science who
is a candidate for a degree with honors will,
in addition to the designated requirements for
the several fields, also enroll in Senior
Research (99). Candidates for honors must
have the approval of the appropriate
department. One reader of a senior thesis
must come from outside the department of
the major.
32
Academic Regulations
Physical Education
Academic Integrity
The maximum rate of work is 5.5 semester
courses per term and 11 per academic year.
Physical education is an undergraduate degree
requirement at Brandeis. This requirement is
satisfied by successful completion of two,
semester-long, noncredit, activity courses.
Students should complete the physical
education requirement by the end of their
sophomore year.
Academic integrity is central to the mission
of Brandeis University. As stated in the
Student Handbook, “Every member of the
University community is expected to
maintain the highest standards of academic
honesty. A student shall not receive credit for
work that is not the product of the student’s
own effort.” Examples of penalties for a
student found responsible for an infringement
of academic honesty are: no credit for the
work in question, failure in the course, and
the traditional range of conduct sanctions
from disciplinary warning through permanent
dismissal from the University.
Rate of Work Limits
New students may earn exemption from all
or part of the physical education requirement
by scoring well on a battery of physical
fitness tests that are administered at the
University each year. Participation in these
exemption tests is voluntary, and the
opportunity is available only during a
student’s first year at the University. For
additional details, see the introductory
remarks in the “physical education” course
offerings section. Transfer students may offer
physical education courses that appear on the
transcripts of their previous institutions.
It is one of the chief obligations of each
member of Brandeis’s academic community
to understand the University’s policies
regarding academic honesty and to uphold
those standards.
Allegations of academic dishonesty by
undergraduate or graduate students are
reported to the Office of Student
Development and Judicial Education for
adjudication within the Student Judicial
System.
Rate of Work
The normal rate of work is defined as four
courses per semester, each bearing four credit
hours and each counting toward the 32
courses required as the graduation standard.
Some courses, notably physical education
courses, do not contribute toward the
calculation of a legal course load or progress
toward the graduation standard. Students
enrolling in them do so as a supplement to an
otherwise legal program of study.
Note that tuition bills are predicated upon
the normal rate of work of four courses per
term; consult the section on fees and
expenses for explanation of the financial
implication of course load variations.
The minimum rate of work is three semester
courses per term and seven per academic
year. A student electing to work at the threecourse rate may not enroll in any of them on
a pass/fail basis; similarly, a student may not
drop to the three-course rate unless all are
being taken for regular letter grades.
Number
of Courses
Equivalent
number of
Credits
Minimum
per semester
3
12
Maximum
per semester
5.5
22
Minimum
per year
7
28
Maximum
per year
11
44
Exceptions to Rate of Work Provisions
Students may petition the Committee on
Academic Standing for exceptions to the Rate
of Work provisions. Exceptions are rarely
made to the minimum rate of work limits.
Students working below the minimum rate of
work without permission will be placed on
probation and may be subject to withdrawal.
The minimum course load for students in the
Brandeis Adult Student Option is one course
per semester. Students in this program pay
tuition at the per-course rate.
Graduating seniors who will have earned 128
credit hours and met all degree requirements
by the end of their final semester are allowed
an exception to the minimum rate of work
for the academic year for their final semester.
Graduating seniors are still held to the
minimum rate of work for the semester (12
credit hours).
With the permission of the University
Registrar, a student may repeat a course
previously completed with a passing grade;
however, the repeated effort will not count
toward the graduation standard of 32 courses
nor contribute toward the grade point
average.
33
Senior Reduced Rate Status
Senior Reduced Rate status enables seniors
who have completed all requirements who
wish to take additional courses in the spring
term to take one or more semester courses
and to pay at the per-course rate. To qualify
for this status seniors must have:
A. Completed all General University
Requirements.
B. Completed 32 semester courses.
C. Completed the requirements in at least
one major.
Seniors petition through the Office of the
University Registrar for this status. Such
petitions must be approved before the first
day of instruction in the spring term
according to the deadlines promulgated by
the Office of the University Registrar.
Detailed information and petition forms may
be obtained from the Office of the University
Registrar. Seniors participating in a four-year
B.A./M.A. program are not eligible for
reduced rate status. Seniors should file their
petitions no later than November 5
5.
Otherwise, permission to carry fewer courses
than outlined above may be granted only by
the Committee on Academic Standing and
only on grounds of illness or personal
hardship. Permission to work and pay at the
six-course per semester rate may be granted
by the Committee in exceptional
circumstances.
Dropping Courses
Students who wish to drop a course,
providing they adhere to the constraints of
rate of work, may do so on or before the
deadline announced in the University
calendar, normally the Friday closest to the
50th day of instruction. Students who drop
courses before the 25th day of instruction
may drop without record. Students who drop
courses between the 26th day of instruction
and the 50th day of instruction will have the
course appear on their permanent record with
a “W” (“dropped”) notation. Petitions to drop
a course after the deadline must be initiated
in the Office of Undergraduate Academic
Affairs; such requests are granted only in
exceptional circumstances. If granted, the
Committee on Academic Standing will
normally instruct the University Registrar to
record a grade of “W” (“dropped”) on the
student’s permanent record.
Elective Courses
Any course not used in the fulfillment of a
specific degree requirement or fulfillment of
major requirements is considered an elective.
Students are strongly encouraged to take
elective courses to complement a strong
liberal arts foundation.
Independent study courses and senior
research courses may also be considered
electives if not used to complete a major.
Enrollment in such courses requires the
signature of the instructor and department
chair.
Changes in Courses
Auditing
Registration and course enrollment occur at
the beginning of each semester. During the
first two weeks of each term, students
finalize their course selections in
consultation with their faculty advisors. Final
course enrollment materials are filed at the
end of that period.
There is no formal audit status for
undergraduate students. Students wishing to
audit a course informally must secure the
permission of the instructor.
Late Enrollment
Requests for program changes after the
second week must be submitted to the
Committee on Academic Standing. Petitions
to add courses after the second week must be
initiated in the Office of Undergraduate
Academic Affairs; such requests are granted
only in exceptional circumstances.
Class Standing
The minimum number of semester courses
required for advancement to each class is as
follows: sophomore: 6; junior: 14; senior: 22.
The minimum number of courses required for
graduation is 32.
Attendance
All students are expected to attend classes
regularly. Students on probation are
compelled by University policy to attend
every class meeting; students on warning are
allowed maximally three excused absences.
In addition, an individual faculty member
may establish attendance requirements for all
students in the course, and may insist on the
completion of all assignments even if a
student was not in attendance for the period.
Classes begin at 10 minutes after the hour
and end on the hour. Tardy students may be
marked absent at the discretion of the
instructor.
Reading Period
An instructor, with the approval of the
department chair or interdepartmental
committee chair, and the dean of arts and
sciences, may institute a reading period in
advanced courses. A reading period is a twoweek period immediately preceding final
examinations during which no classes are
held. A student works on assigned course
material not covered in class sessions. The
reading period material will be dealt with in
the final examinations.
Grades
Grades are reported to the Office of the
University Registrar four times a year. In
arriving at these grades, faculty members are
obliged to utilize the same criteria for all
students in a course, and are at liberty to
consider any and all components of the
student’s work in a course: written work,
recitations, laboratory technique and reports,
special reports or research, and all
examinations. Grading in full-year courses is
cumulative so that spring grades take into
account the fall semester work and replace
the midyear grades. The following grades will
be used with plus or minus where
appropriate:
A
High Distinction
B
Distinction
C
Satisfactory
D
Passing, but
Unsatisfactory
E
Failure
34
The letters “S” (Satisfactory) or “U”
(Unsatisfactory) may be used as the
midsemester grades for undergraduates. At
midyear there must be a regular letter grade,
even in full-year courses. The only exception
is that “S” or “U” may be used in a full-year
reading course (usually numbered 98 or 99).
The numerical equivalents of the grades as
determined by the faculty are:
A+ or A
4.00
A-
3.67
B+
3.33
B
3.00
B-
2.67
C+
2.33
C
2.00
C-
1.67
D+
1.33
D
1.00
D-
0.67
E
0.00
The University Registrar reports midyear and
year-end grades to students in writing.
Instructors notify students of midsemester
grades.
Credit/No Credit Grading
Pass/Fail Option
Certain courses, specifically ENG 19a, ENG
109a and b, ENG 119a and b, ENG 129a and
b, MUS 10a,b-15a,b, MUS 111a and b, MUS
112a and b, MUS 116a and b, THA 41a, and
credit-bearing peer assistantships do not
utilize letter grades. For pedagogical reasons,
the grades assigned in these courses are either
Credit (“CR”) or No Credit (“NC”),
accompanied by written evaluations that are
not included in the student’s transcript.
These grades are the equivalent of “pass” and
“fail” for purposes of computing grade point
averages. A student may take an unlimited
number of semester courses graded CR/NC.
However, a course utilizing this grading
pattern may not be undertaken in a semester
in which the student has fewer than two
courses (eight semester hours credit) enrolled
on a regular letter graded basis.
Undergraduate students who enter Brandeis
in fall term 2000 and thereafter may enroll in
up to four semester courses pass/fail. Grades
of “pass” (“P” for performance at the D- level
or above) will not be used in computing grade
point averages. Grades of “fail” (“F” for
performance below a D- level) will be
converted to grades of “E” and will be used in
computing grade point averages.
Degrees with Honors
Students whose grade point average at the
end of the junior year is 3.00 or above in their
major may petition the department concerned
for permission to work for honors in their
major. Please consult the individual
department listings as the GPA required to
petition may vary. Department distinction is
awarded by each department or
interdepartmental committee. The levels of
distinction are “honors,” “high honors,” or
“highest honors.”
The awards of cum laude and magna cum
laude require a cumulative grade point
average of 3.500 and 3.700, respectively.
The award of summa cum laude requires a
cumulative grade point average of 3.800 and
the award of distinction in the major.
The University has a policy of depositing
honors theses with the Library and making
them available to future students and
scholars for research purposes.
Phi Beta Kappa
The University is host to a chapter of the Phi
Beta Kappa Society. Each year, a highly select
group of seniors and an even more limited
group of juniors are elected to this national
honor society. An extremely high level of
academic achievement is necessary.
Membership in this society is by invitation
only.
The following constraints apply to the use of
the P/F grading option:
A. No more than one course may be taken
pass/fail during a single term.
B. No courses used to fulfill any general
University requirement may be taken on the
pass/fail grading option. No more than one
course (and never the final one) in the foreign
language sequence may be taken pass/fail if
the language is being offered in satisfaction of
the foreign language requirement.
C. Normally, courses taken pass/fail will not
satisfy major requirements. (Some
departments may allow courses in excess of
those required for the major to be taken pass/
fail; consult the undergraduate advising head
for major-specific practices.)
D. The pass/fail option may not be used in a
semester unless the course program includes
at least three Brandeis courses (12 semester
hours credit) enrolled on a regular letter grade
basis. Hence, students working at a reduced
rate of work may not use the pass/fail option.
E. In full-year courses the elected grading
option (pass/fail or letter grade) applies to
both semesters and may not be changed at
midyear. (Such a course taken pass/fail would
expend two of the allowable four pass/fail
semesters.)
F. Selection of the pass/fail grading option for
a course must be made on or before the
deadline announced in the University
calendar, normally the Friday closest to the
20th day of instruction. Courses elected on
the pass/fail basis may be converted to a
graded basis after the end of the semester and
before the announced deadline in the
following semester, normally the Friday
closest to the 20th day of instruction.
G. In an undergraduate’s final semester,
conversion from a P/F grading basis to a
letter-grade basis must be completed before
the deadline announced in the University
calendar for the receipt of Senior grades,
normally three days after the last day of final
examinations. Hence graduating seniors will
be allowed to convert to a letter-grade basis at
any time during their final semester until the
deadline stated above.
35
Petitions will not be entertained for
exception to the above constraints and
deadlines. Arrangements between students
and instructors do not constitute official
pass/fail enrollment. Instructors are not
informed of the grading option that a student
has chosen. Students taking courses pass/fail
must complete all assignments and
examinations.
When other required academic exercises,
such as laboratory assignments, minor papers,
or quizzes are not completed, and when such
noncompliance is excused, instructors may,
at their discretion, require the work to be
made up or not count the assignment in
determining a grade. When there is no
satisfactory excuse for the incomplete work,
instructors may record a failing grade.
Incompletes and Excused Absences
from Final Exams
The Committee on Academic
Standing
Students who are unable to take their final
examinations for legitimate reasons and wish
to request a make-up exam must obtain
advance authorization from the Office of
Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
The Committee on Academic Standing
(COAS) serves as the academic review board
for undergraduate students in the College of
Arts and Sciences. The Committee evaluates
student records at the end of each semester to
determine academic standing. Academic
standing refers to whether a student has a
satisfactory or unsatisfactory academic
record, please see the Academic Status
section below for further details. The
Committee also hears all cases of required
withdrawal from and readmission to the
University, and recommends to the faculty
degrees and honors for undergraduates. The
Committee meets monthly to evaluate
student requests (petitions) for exceptions to
University academic regulations and other
cases that warrant special consideration. To
ensure timely attention to requests COAS
has delegated the authority to address routine
matters to the Executive Council (EXCO)
which meets on a weekly basis.
If a student is absent without excuse from a
term-end examination and does not obtain
authorization for a make-up examination, the
student will be given a grade of zero on the
exam. The instructor will be asked to supply
a grade for the course. If the instructor fails to
do so on or before the institutional deadline,
the registrar will enter a failing grade on the
student’s record.
A student is expected to complete the work
in each course before the beginning of the
examination period. Students unable to
complete the work in a course by this time
for legitimate reasons may request an
Incomplete
Incomplete. Application forms must be
obtained from and returned to the Office of
Undergraduate Academic Affairs by the last
day of instruction. Approval of the instructor
is required; students on warning or probation
will not be granted incompletes. The work
must be completed by a date stipulated by the
instructor and in no case later than two
weeks after the beginning of the next
semester. The grade for the course must be
filed by the instructor no later than the third
week of the next semester.
The record of a student will display an
incomplete or absence until a permanent
grade has been provided or until these
designations expire. Upon expiration, if a
permanent final grade has not been submitted
to replace the temporary grade, the registrar is
instructed to record an “E” for the course.
Such a grade may be altered only by special
petition to the Committee on Academic
Standing.
The Committee consists of the dean of arts
and sciences, or his/her designee, who serves
as chair, eight members of the faculty
selected by the dean in consultation with the
Council of the Faculty Senate, the dean of
student life, and the University Registrar.
Also in attendance as non-voting members
are the class deans, assistant registrar,
director of the Transitional Year Program,
associate dean of student enrichment
services.
A student may petition the committee
through his/her class dean, who will present
the student’s written petition to the
committee. COAS may ask the class dean for
clarification or additional information as
necessary. COAS determines by majority vote
whether to approve or deny the petition.
COAS may, at its discretion, defer its
decision and require additional information
in support of the petition. The decision that
COAS reaches is communicated to the
student by the class dean.
A student may appeal a decision by COAS
under certain circumstances. In cases of
required withdrawal from the University the
student may appeal the committee’s decision.
The decision of the appellate is final and no
further appeals are possible. In all other cases
students may request reconsideration by
COAS only under the following
circumstances: where the student has new
evidence, not previously available which
could have materially affected the decision of
COAS; or evidence of procedural error. Once
COAS has ruled on the petition for
reconsideration, a student may submit a
written appeal. The decision of the appellate
will be final.
For additional information about COAS and
the process of petitioning COAS please
contact the Office of Undergraduate
Academic Affairs and First Year Services.
Academic Status
At the end of each semester, the Committee
on Academic Standing announces the Dean’s
List of honor students. Students are placed on
the Dean’s List when they have earned a
grade point average in the preceding semester
of 3.50 or higher and have not received a D, E,
U, F, or NC (labs and physical education
included) or more than one C; and have
received a regular letter grade in at least three
regular, four-credit courses. Seniors doing
honors work in the fall may receive an “S” in
that course (99) and still be eligible. Dean’s
List students receive formal acknowledgment
of this achievement from the Office of
Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
Degree eligibility normally requires a
cumulative grade point average of at least
2.000.
Students who work below the minimum rate
of work without permission will be
considered to have an unsatisfactory record
and will be placed on probation and may be
subject to withdrawal from the University.
36
A satisfactory semester record contains no
grades of D, E, F, or NC and requires a
semester grade point average of at least 2.000.
At the conclusion of each semester the
Committee on Academic Standing shall
review the records of students whose
performance is unsatisfactory. Such students
will be placed on warning, probation, or
required withdrawal status, according to the
guidelines specified on the following chart:
Semester
Record
Semester
GPA < 2.000
Semester
GPA 2.000+
1D
Probation
Warning/
Probation*
1 E, F, or
NC
Probation
Warning/
Probation
More than
Probation/
one
Withdrawal
unsatisfactory
grade
Warning/
Probation
*If a student had an unsatisfactory record in a
previous semester.
To be restored to good standing, a student on
warning or probation must earn in the
following semester a satisfactory record with
no incomplete grades. Repeated semesters of
unsatisfactory work may lead to required
withdrawal for a period of one year. The
University may require withdrawal at any
time from a student whose academic
performance is so profoundly deficient as to
suggest an inability to meet academic
requirements. Students are informed in
writing of any change in academic status.
Involuntary withdrawal from the University
occasioned by academic deficiency requires
the student to interrupt formal study for a
minimum of one year. After that time the
Committee on Academic Standing will
consider application for readmission. Primary
considerations in making readmission
decisions are evidence of sustained and
productive activity during the period of
absence from the campus, evidence of serious
academic purpose, and pertinent letters of
recommendation attesting to the candidate’s
readiness to resume formal study. Courses
taken for academic credit while on
involuntary withdrawal from the University
are not eligible for transfer toward the
Brandeis degree.
Leave of Absence and Voluntary
Withdrawal from the University
Any degree-seeking undergraduate student
who has been in residence for two semesters,
and who has a complete and satisfactory
record from the preceding semester, is eligible
for a leave of absence. A leave of absence is
granted for one or two semesters and may be
extended once only. Normally, leaves are
arranged in advance through the Office of
Undergraduate Academic Affairs. On an
exceptional basis, personal leave may be
granted for a semester in progress, in which
case permission must be secured from the
Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs no
later than the 20th day of instruction.
Students are required to inform the Office of
Undergraduate Academic Affairs in writing of
their intentions at a specified date prior to
the beginning of the term in which they are
scheduled to register. Credit will not be
granted for academic work taken at other
institutions during a leave of absence, except
as stipulated in the section titled “Leave of
Absence with Credit.”
A student wishing to withdraw from the
University may do so at any time up to and
inclusive of the last day of instruction.
Withdrawals requested after the last day of
instruction must be approved by the
Committee on Academic Standing. When a
student withdraws during or at the end of a
semester course enrollments are not
expunged from his/her record, rather a grade
of “W” (“dropped”) is entered for each course.
From students who withdraw in good
standing, the Committee on Academic
Standing will consider applications for
readmission after one full semester of absence
from the campus. Other students may apply
for readmission after one calendar year has
elapsed.
In order to obtain a leave of absence or to
withdraw from the University, a student
must consult the Office of Undergraduate
Academic Affairs and obtain clearance from
all appropriate administrative offices.
Extended Credit
A student who has completed eight semesters
of study at Brandeis (or the equivalent in the
case of transfer students) and who has earned
a minimum of 120 semester-course credits
(equivalent to 30 four credit courses) is
eligible for Extended Credit status. This
status allows completion of required
coursework only.
Extended credit courses may be taken over
the summer (at Brandeis or elsewhere) or
during the academic year either at Brandeis
with tuition being charged on a per-course
basis, or at another university (if the student
has not already transferred in the maximum
number of courses allowed). Students who
complete their coursework on Extended
Credit status are awarded their degrees at the
first May Commencement following the
evaluation and posting of the extended credit
to their academic records. The award and
posting of extended credit is dependent upon
the following: prior approval by the Office of
the University Registrar of the courses to be
taken; grades of the appropriate level (B- for
summer courses, C- for courses during the
academic year); and the receipt by the Office
of the University Registrar of an official
transcript from the school where any
extended credit courses were completed.
Students who do not meet the above criteria
(eight semesters and 120 course credits) are
not eligible for this option and must petition
for a ninth semester in residence through the
Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
37
Special Academic
Opportunities
Dual Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree
Programs
The four-year Bachelor’s/Master’s Program is
designed to enable exceptional or gifted
undergraduates to earn two degrees
simultaneously during their period of study at
Brandeis University. If a student has not
completed the requirements for the master’s
portion of the program at the end of the
fourth year then only the bachelor’s degree is
awarded.
Any program offering graduate study is
eligible to offer a four-year dual degree
program. At present, participating programs
are anthropology, biochemistry, biology,
chemistry, history, mathematics,
neuroscience, physics, and politics.
Requirements for the bachelor’s degree,
defined by the College of Arts and Sciences,
remain unaffected by participation in the
program. Students will be eligible for the
simultaneous award of the bachelor’s and
master’s degrees if, while completing
undergraduate requirements, they can:
A. fulfill a minimum of three years’ residence
on campus, one of which must be study at
the graduate level;
B. submit a master’s thesis in departments
requiring one (Whether such thesis may also
be considered for undergraduate departmental
honors may differ among programs, and will
be addressed specifically in the program
requirements.);
C. complete a total of 38 courses (152
semester-hour course credits), of which at
least four must be at the graduate level and
not counted toward undergraduate major
requirements;
D. complete all other departmental and
University requirements that apply to earning
a master’s degree in the chosen department.
Specifically, undergraduates should be aware
that “B-” is the minimal grade that yields
progress toward a graduate degree.
A student must make formal written
application for admission to this program on
forms available at the Office of the Graduate
School of Arts and Sciences. This must be
done by May 1 of the student’s junior year
(usually the sixth semester at Brandeis).
Transfer students should apply by the fourth
semester in residence. (Interested transfer
students are advised to consult with their
advisors and the Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences when they first enter Brandeis in
order to plan their course of study.) All
applications must include a proposed course
of study, specifying how all degree
requirements will be met. Seniors
participating in the four-year B.A./M.A.
program are not eligible for Senior Reduced
Rate status.
Computer science, International Business
School, and Near Eastern and Judaic Studies
offer programs in which the bachelor’s degree
is conferred at the end of the fourth year, and
the requirements for a master’s degree are
satisfied with one additional year of study.
Consult the departments for details.
Independent Interdisciplinary Major
An independent interdisciplinary major offers
students with interdisciplinary academic
interests the opportunity to pursue a selfdesigned course of study with the support of
appropriate faculty members and the approval
of the Undergraduate Curriculum
Committee. Independent interdisciplinary
major proposals include courses in at least
two, and preferably more, departments at the
University and form an integrated program
focusing on some issue, theme, or subject
area not available within the context of
existing departmental majors. An
independent interdisciplinary major must be
declared before the end of the student’s junior
year.
Additional information and guidance in
designing an independent interdisciplinary
major may be obtained in the Office of
Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
Student must declare any minors no later
than February 5 of their senior year.
Minors
Page
African and
Afro-American Studies
67
Anthropology
76
Art History
161
Business
102
Chemistry
104
Classical Studies
113
Computer Science
121
Creative Writing
139
East Asian Studies
126
Economics
128
Education
133
Education Studies
133
English, American, and
Anglophone Literature
139
Environmental Studies
152
Film Studies
159
French Language and Literature
169
German Language and Literature
175
Health: Science, Society, and Policy
180
Hebrew Language and Literature
183
History of Ideas
211
International and Global Studies
215
Internet Studies
234
Minors
In addition to a major students have the
opportunity to select a “minor.” A minor
consists of a coherent group of courses
defined by a department or an
interdepartmental program. Minors are either
a limited version of a major, a more
specialized subset of a particular field of
study, or a structured opportunity to explore
areas of study that are interdisciplinary in
scope. Completion of the requirements of a
minor is noted on a student’s transcript.
Students must declare their participation in
minors and are limited to a maximum of
three. The specific requirements of the
minors may be found with the departmental
or interdepartmental listings in this
publication. Pages for these listings are
indicated in the list below.
38
Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies
235
Internship for Credit
Italian Studies
238
Journalism
245
Latin American Studies
248
Legal Studies
250
Linguistics
255
Mathematics
258
Internships allow students to apply the liberal
arts skills of research, writing, and analysis in
work-world situations, thereby enhancing the
development of these skills. A credit-bearing
internship should have a significant academic
component, provide a valuable learning
experience for the undergraduate, and make a
meaningful contribution to the student’s
program of study. It should require use of
research, writing, and/or analytical skills and
include a specific project to be accomplished
in the designated time period. Work done for
an internship will be unpaid.
Medieval and Renaissance Studies
264
Music
271
Near Eastern and Judaic Studies
281
Peace, Conflict, and Coexistence
Studies
305
Philosophy
307
Physics
315
Religious Studies
340
Russian and East European Studies
344
Russian Language and Literature
345
Social Justice and Social Policy
348
Spanish Language and Literature
360
Theater Arts
364
Women’s Studies
377
Undergraduate Research
Opportunities
Brandeis offers special opportunities for
undergraduates to engage in scholarly
research under the guidance of the faculty.
Funds are available on a competitive basis to
support student research enterprises during
the academic year and during the summer
months. Further details about research
opportunities for undergraduates may be
obtained from the Office of Undergraduate
Academic Affairs, and the McNair Scholars
Program.
Credit-bearing internships are offered by
departments with the course number “92”
and the course title “Internship and
Analysis.” Internship courses are subject to
the normal enrollment deadlines, but require
manual enrollment, which must be done at
the Office of the University Registrar.
Participation is normally limited to juniors
and seniors. A student may not receive credit
for more than two such courses, the
equivalent of eight credit hours.
Expected Components of Academic Year
Internships
Students should work the equivalent of at
least eight and no more than 15 hours per
week for at least 10 weeks of a 13-week
semester. Students should complete readings
and written assignments considered
appropriate by the instructor. Examples of
assignments include submission of an
annotated bibliography of readings relevant to
the work site, several short papers (or one
long paper), a journal or log of experiences,
and papers completed for the internship.
Faculty sponsors meet with interns at least
once every two weeks to discuss research
methodologies, the bibliography or other
assignments, work-site experiences, etc.
Faculty sponsors and site supervisors should
communicate at the beginning, midterm, and
end of the semester. The academic work
related to the internship should contribute a
significant portion of the final grade, but that
work performed at the internship may also be
included in the grading process. The grade for
the internship course is determined solely by
the faculty member.
Expected Components of Summer Internships
Credit for a summer internship may be
earned during the following fall semester if
the internship and appropriate academic work
are successfully completed. Students should
observe the guidelines established for
academic year internships with the following
adjustments. Arrangements with the faculty
sponsor should be completed prior to the
student’s leaving Brandeis at the end of the
spring term. Students should work the
equivalent of at least six weeks and at least
100 hours during the summer internship (e.g.,
10 hours per week for 10 weeks, 17 hours per
week for six weeks, etc.). Faculty sponsors
should meet with students at least six times
during the fall semester to supervise readings
and written assignments related to the
internship. Although work performed at the
internship site may be included in the grading
process, the internship grade is determined
solely by the instructor.
The Hiatt Career Center has established a list
of internship sites that offer structured site
supervision. Students are encouraged to
complete post-internship evaluations at the
center that will then be shared with other
Brandeis students seeking internships.
Undergraduate Peer Assistantships
for Credit
Peer teaching yields many benefits to
undergraduate teachers and learners. The
University has established uniform standards
for the utilization of undergraduate peer
assistants and for the awarding of academic
credit for such activities. Opportunities to
serve as peer assistants are by invitation and
generally limited to juniors and seniors who
have demonstrated exceptional academic
achievement. Undergraduates serving in this
capacity may be compensated for their
services or receive one, and only one,
semester course credit for their assistance
during their Brandeis career. Credit-bearing
peer assistantships are enrolled under the
course number “94” and the course title
“Peer Assistantship” and are subject to the
normal enrollment procedures and deadlines.
Peer Assistant courses are offered exclusively
on a credit/no-credit grading basis and are not
factored into the student’s grade point
average.
Tufts University School of Medicine
Early Acceptance Program
The Tufts University School of Medicine
Early Acceptance Program is designed for
academically strong undergraduate students
who are pursuing a premedical curriculum.
Successful completion of this program
assures candidates of acceptance to Tufts
University School of Medicine after
graduation.
39
Columbia University School of
Engineering Combined Degree
Program
Brandeis University and The Fu Foundation
School of Engineering and Applied Science of
Columbia University have established a dual
degree program whereby students complete
three years of coursework at Brandeis
University, then spend two years at
Columbia University to complete the
requirements for an engineering degree.
Students admitted to the program and
completing it successfully would be awarded
a B.A. in physics (or possibly some other
science major) from Brandeis University and a
B.S. in engineering from Columbia
University.
Interested candidates apply to the program in
the spring of their sophomore year and are
expected to have completed at Brandeis two
semesters of general chemistry and biology
with laboratories and one semester of organic
chemistry with a grade point average of 3.50
or better, and a cumulative grade point
average of at least 3.50 at the time of
application. Students must apply by March 1
and will be notified of their acceptance in
July. Accepted students are expected to
complete one year of physics, mathematics,
English and American literature, and
requirements for graduation with a B+
average before entering Tufts University
Medical School.
Once accepted to the program, students will
have access to a faculty mentoring program at
Tufts Medical School, and the opportunity to
participate in special seminars. Accepted
students will have until August 1 following
their sophomore year to accept the offer via
the AMCAS early decision process. If a
student does not accept the offer, he or she
has not jeopardized the chance to apply to
any other medical school. For statistical
purposes only, the MCAT is required for
accepted students and must be taken prior to
matriculation at the medical school.
Columbia University Law School’s
Accelerated Program in
Interdisciplinary Legal Education
Brandeis is affiliated with Columbia
University Law School in a special program
that allows two outstanding students to gain
admission to the Law School after three years
at Brandeis. Students must have completed
28 courses, have taken the Law School
Admission Test, and have been nominated by
Brandeis after a rigorous screening process.
Students accepted by the Columbia
University Law School will complete their
four courses required for the completion of
the Brandeis degree during their second and
third years at the Law School. They will be
awarded the Brandeis B.A. and the Columbia
J.D. simultaneously.
Students interested in this program are
advised to seek additional information at the
outset of their fourth semester in the Office
of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
Interested students should consult the
program coordinator in the physics
department as soon as possible in order to
plan their curriculum to meet Columbia
prerequisites. Each engineering department at
Columbia has its own set of prerequisites
that can be obtained from the program
coordinator. Interested candidates must apply
to the program prior to January 1 for
admission to Columbia University in the
subsequent fall semester. Before
matriculating at Columbia, a typical physics
major would have completed at Brandeis: the
General University Requirements and at least
the following courses (or equivalents): PHYS
11a,b, 19a,b 20a,b; MATH 10a,b, 21a,b, 37a;
CHEM 11a,b, 18a,b; COSI 11a; and one
course in economics. Students should also
have earned a grade point average of 3.0 or
above. Letters of recommendation from the
Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs
and from the program coordinator at Brandeis
are also required to apply.
Brandeis Summer School
The Brandeis Summer School offers students
a diverse selection of undergraduate courses
in two, five-week sessions. Special summer
programs on campus and abroad provide
students with further opportunities for indepth study.
The student has the opportunity to enroll in
courses to meet University degree
requirements, accelerate individual programs
of study, work toward a double major, or take
enrichment courses. A maximum of four
courses may be used toward the academic
residency requirement. The average summer
program course has a small student
enrollment, generating a rigorous but
informal atmosphere for teacher-student
interaction.
40
Off-Campus Study
Of particular interest to students are the
strong summer program offerings in the area
of premedical education, intensive language
study, computer science courses, the wide
variety of liberal arts selections, and special
programs in which academic work
complements practical work experience.
A student may earn credit toward the
Brandeis degree for no more than three
semester courses in one summer.
Students entering Brandeis as freshman must
complete one semester at Brandeis before
enrolling in Brandeis summer school courses.
For full information, see the Summer School
Bulletin or contact the Rabb School of
Summer and Continuing Studies, 781-7363424.
Preparation for Professional Training
desirable. Although courses from the Legal
Studies Program might familiarize the
prospective law student with law school
material, it is not necessary that such courses
be taken as preparation for professional
training.
Prospective applicants to law school should
consult the Hiatt Career Development Center
for law school catalogs and Law School
Admissions Test (LSAT) registration
materials. Also available in that office is the
Brandeis Prelaw Handbook, which includes a
survey of the experiences of recent Brandeis
alumni in seeking admission to law school, as
well as a more detailed description of law
school application procedures. Several
members of the faculty serve informally as
advisors to prospective law school applicants.
Students requesting a dean’s certification
should contact the Office of Undergraduate
Academic Affairs.
Medicine and Dentistry
The College of Arts and Sciences does not
design courses of study with specific
vocational goals in mind. In pursuing a broad
education in the liberal arts and sciences,
students develop a firm foundation for
subsequent professional education.
Architecture
Architectural schools are looking for solid
experience in any major. It is not necessary to
major in fine arts. There are several kinds of
courses, however, that should be taken: basic
calculus and basic physics; basic design, life
drawing, and as many other fine arts studio
courses as practicable; courses in
architectural history; and principles of urban
studies and other urban studies courses, if
feasible.
The course of study for pre-health
professionals at Brandeis is more than simply
a collection of required courses. An assistant
dean in the Office of Undergraduate
Academic Affairs is available for advice and
guidance throughout a student’s
undergraduate career. In the junior year, each
student is assigned a faculty member on the
Board of Premedical Advisors. These advisors
provide ongoing guidance, aid in the
application procedure, and participate in the
preparation of letters of recommendation.
The basic requirements for pre-health
professionals are satisfied by the following
courses: two introductory courses (plus
laboratory) in general chemistry, organic
chemistry, physics, and biology.
In addition, past experience indicates that
students should prepare an art portfolio
consisting of studies prepared in conjunction
with basic design or another studio course.
Finally, summer employment in architectural
offices, gained on the student’s own
initiative, remains useful.
A Guide for Premedical Students at Brandeis
University, a comprehensive handbook that
addresses all aspects of the premedical
curriculum and the process of applying to
medical schools, is available to all premedical
students through the Web at
www.brandeis.edu/academaffairs/
premed.htm.
Law
Teaching
Most law schools advise undergraduates to
concentrate in what interests them since the
later specific legal training will build on the
advantages of a sound liberal arts education.
Although there is no prescribed program of
study for prospective law school applicants,
many concentrate in such social sciences as
politics, economics, history, and American
studies. Since law schools tend to look for
evidence of a rigorous schedule of courses and
high verbal competence, a background in
logic, the natural sciences, and English is
While the University does not have a major
in education, it offers a program that fulfills
Massachusetts’s requirements for teacher
certification and at least partially fulfills
those of other states as well. Students
interested in preparing for a career as a
teacher in preschool, primary, or secondary
schools should inform themselves of
certification requirements in the state where
they plan to work and should consult the
director of the Education Program.
Study Abroad
Brandeis University permits students to apply
credits earned if they enroll in specified
programs abroad that provide a sound course
of study to enrich and enhance the American
collegiate experience. Students may receive
credit toward their Brandeis degrees through
participation in educational programs abroad
that have been approved by the
Undergraduate Curriculum Committee on
the recommendation of the Office of
Undergraduate Academic Affairs. This
committee may permit eligible students to
apply credits earned if they enroll in overseas
programs of American universities, or in
special cases, to pursue individual programs
of study at international universities. Over
250 programs in 62 countries have been
approved for Brandeis students’ participation.
The Office of Undergraduate Academic
Affairs maintains a resource library of
materials on approved programs and offers
counseling to undergraduates interested in
enriching their Brandeis experience with a
period of international study. Eligibility
criteria include appropriate class standing
(usually junior), good academic standing, a
minimum 2.800 GPA, the approval of the
major department, a compelling academic
reason, and a plan for completing all Brandeis
degree and major requirements within eight
semesters.
Credit for work completed abroad will be
accepted from those programs previously
approved for overseas study by Brandeis
University, or from programs that receive
special approval from the Undergraduate
Curriculum Committee according to
University guidelines. Such transfer of course
credits will not necessarily imply that the
work will be accepted for major credit by
individual departments. In order to receive
credit for work done abroad students must
return to Brandeis for at least one semester at
an eligible rate of work.
Outstanding students may apply for a limited
number of special scholarship grants to aid
them in completing their program of study
abroad. The Abram L. Sachar International
Fellowship Program awards stipends for
international study to exceptional students
who plan to study abroad in the junior year,
or who are graduate students undertaking predissertation or dissertation research abroad.
The Saul Epstein-Meyer Schindler
Endowment for Overseas Study provides
additional funding for humanities students,
while the Helen Ke Scholarship provides
funding for students studying abroad in
China. These programs are competitive;
awards are made on the basis of academic
41
excellence and financial need. The Office of
Undergraduate Academic Affairs provides
information and assistance in applying for the
Sachar scholarships, as well as for overseas
study grants available through the Fulbright,
Rhodes, Marshall, and DAAD competitions.
Beginning with the fall 2004 semester
students approved to study abroad will pay
Brandeis tuition and certain fees, thereby
maintaining their status as currently enrolled
students, and as such, the Brandeis financial
aid for which they are eligible will be
portable. More information on this policy
change will be made available in the coming
months on the study abroad Website at
www.brandeis.edu/uaafys/abroad.
Leave of Absence with Credit
Students in good standing may petition for a
personal leave without credit, a leave to study
abroad with credit, or a domestic leave of
absence with credit. Other sections of the
Bulletin are devoted to leave of absence
without credit and study abroad. This section
deals exclusively with domestic creditbearing leaves of absence. To qualify for fullcredit transfer upon return, a student on
credit-bearing leave status must work at a full
rate of work as defined by the host institution
and earn grades of at least a C-. Applicants
must be in good standing; must have a
complete and satisfactory record in the most
recent semester of Brandeis study; must have
completed at least two semesters at Brandeis;
and must have compelling academic reasons.
Only in exceptional cases may the senior year
be spent on leave of absence with credit. No
more than one course in a full course load
may be taken in a subject area that will not
transfer to the Brandeis degree.
Proposals for domestic leave of absence with
credit must be submitted prior to the period
of leave, contain a detailed course of study for
one or two semesters of full-time work of
demonstrable academic merit; bear the
approval of the applicant’s faculty advisor;
and develop a feasible plan for satisfying all
degree requirements by the expected
graduation date.
Beginning with the fall 2004 semester
students approved for a leave of absence with
credit will pay Brandeis tuition and certain
fees, thereby maintaining their status as
currently enrolled students, and as such, the
Brandeis financial aid for which they are
eligible will be portable.
Complete information on the regulations
governing this program and assistance in
preparing proposals may be obtained from the
Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
Cross-Registration
Field Study
Full-time Brandeis students enjoy crossregistration privileges with Babson, Bentley,
and Wellesley Colleges, and with the
undergraduate schools of arts and sciences at
Boston College, Boston University, and Tufts
University. Under this program students may
earn credit toward the Brandeis degree
without payment of additional tuition
through satisfactory completion of courses
taken on these neighboring campuses. A
cross-registration course may be the fourth or
fifth course in a student’s program—a student
must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credithours in Brandeis courses to be eligible to
cross-register. Cross-registration courses do
not count toward the 24 courses required for
academic residency. Cross-registration
courses and grades appear on Brandeis
transcripts. Grades earned in cross-registered
courses are not used in the calculation of the
grade point average. Additional information
may be obtained from the Office of
Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
During junior or senior year, undergraduates
may undertake a substantial research project
in certain majors in lieu of four semester
courses. Research may be conducted either on
campus or in the field—execution of the
project may involve prolonged absence from
the Brandeis campus—at another institution,
government agency, etc. The field study
project must have the approval of the
student’s department of major. The project
will be supervised by a faculty advisor
assigned by the department, and a second
member of the faculty will participate in
evaluation of the student’s work and the
assignment of a grade. Work in the project
may occupy a full semester or it may be of
two semesters’ duration. In the latter case,
the two semesters must be consecutive.
Students may receive no more than four
semester-course credits for field study, and
may offer no more than two semester-course
credits from the field study course toward the
department’s major requirements. Interested
students should explore the possibility of
field study in their majors with a faculty
member in their major department. Through
affiliation with the School for Field Studies,
up to four semester course credits may be
earned for work at one of five
environmentally oriented study centers
abroad. SIT Study Abroad and Biosphere 2
Center also offer field study options offcampus.
Summer School Credit
A student may complete courses at summer
schools conducted by regionally accredited
colleges and universities for placement
purposes, general degree requirements (except
academic residency), and major/minor
requirements as allowed by individual
departments/programs. In order to be assured
that credit will be granted upon satisfactory
completion, students should obtain approval
in advance from the Office of the University
Registrar. Normally, courses must be taken at
summer programs of at least six weeks in
duration; however, the Committee on
Academic Standing may approve for credit
selected programs with a minimum of 37
contact hours and five weeks in duration. For
summer work taken at institutions other
than Brandeis, only grades of B- or higher will
receive credit. A student may earn credit for
no more than three semester courses in one
summer.
Students seeking credit for a summer course
conducted by accredited colleges and
universities overseas should obtain approval
in advance from the Office of Undergraduate
Academic Affairs.
42
The Graduate School of
Arts and Sciences
Admission
History and Organization
Areas of Graduate Study
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
was formally established in 1953 when the
University’s Board of Trustees authorized
graduate study in the Departments of
Chemistry, Music, Psychology, and Near
Eastern and Judaic Studies. The general
direction of the Graduate School is vested in
a Graduate Council of the Faculty comprised
of the President and the provost, ex officio;
the dean of arts and sciences; and one
representative, usually the chair, of each of
the several University departments and
programs offering graduate instruction. The
members of the Graduate Council are
appointed by the President on the
recommendations of the dean of arts and
sciences. The functions of the Graduate
Council, exercised in consonance with
University policy, are to determine
requirements for admission; provide programs
of study and examination; establish and
maintain requirements for graduate degrees;
make recommendations for degrees; make
recommendations for new areas of graduate
study; lay down such regulations as may be
considered necessary or expedient for
governing the Graduate School; and exercise a
general supervision over its affairs. The dean
of arts and sciences is the chair of the
Graduate Council and the chief executive
officer of the Graduate School.
During the academic year 2003-04, graduate
programs will be offered in the following
areas:
Objectives
The underlying ideal of the Graduate School
is to assemble a community of scholars,
scientists, and artists, in whose company the
student-scholar can pursue study, research,
and teaching as an apprentice. This objective
is to be attained by individualizing programs
of study, restricting the number of students
accepted, maintaining continual contact
between students and faculty, and fostering
the intellectual potential of each student. The
graduate programs are designed to educate
broadly as well as train professionally.
Degrees are granted on the evidence of
intellectual growth and development, rather
than solely on the basis of formal course
credits. Fulfillment of the minimum
requirements cannot, therefore, be regarded
as the sole requisite for degrees.
American History
Anthropology
Anthropology and Women’s Studies
Biochemistry
Biophysics and Structural Biology
Chemistry
Comparative History
Computer Science
Education
English and American Literature
English and American Literature and
Women’s Studies
Genetic Counseling
Jewish Communal Service
Jewish Communal Service and
Management of Human Services (The Heller
School)
Jewish Communal Service and Near
Eastern and Judaic Studies
Mathematics
Molecular and Cell Biology
Music
Near Eastern and Judaic Studies
Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and
Sociology
Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and Women’s
Studies
Neuroscience
Physics
Politics
Politics and Social Policy (The Heller School)
Psychology
Sociology
Sociology and Social Policy (The Heller
School)
Sociology and Women’s Studies
Teaching of Hebrew
Theater Arts
The Graduate School also offers postbaccalaureate programs in computer science,
studio art and premedical studies, as well as a
diploma in Jewish studies. There are also
joint degree programs for Ph.D. students at
the master’s and doctoral levels.
Graduate School
The Graduate School office is located on the
second floor of Kutz Hall. All requests for
information and application forms should be
addressed to the Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences, Brandeis University, Mailstop 031,
P.O. Box 549110, Waltham, MA 02454-9110.
As a rule, only well-qualified applicants who
have completed at least the normal four-year
program leading to the bachelor’s degree will
be considered for admission to the Graduate
School. Graduates of schools outside of the
United States and others who have completed
the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree program
may apply, describing in detail the
educational program they have completed.
Testing
Applicants for admission to the graduate
programs in American history, anthropology,
biochemistry, biophysics and structural
biology, chemistry, comparative history,
English and American literature, genetic
counseling, Jewish communal service,
mathematics, molecular and cell biology,
neuroscience, physics, politics, and
psychology must submit official results of the
Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Applicants to the Jewish Communal Service
program may submit the official results of
either the GMAT or the Miller Analogies
Test in lieu of the GRE. All other applicants
are urged to take the GRE. Consult specific
programs for additional test requirements. In
order for the results of the GRE to be
considered, the applicant should take the
examination no later than January preceding
the academic year for which application is
made. Information concerning the GRE is
available from the Educational Testing
Service, Princeton, NJ 08541-6155.
Applicants whose native language is not
English, regardless of the field of graduate
study, are required to submit the official
score of the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL). The minimum score for
admission to the Graduate School is 600
(paper-based test) or 250 (computer-based
test). They are also advised to take the Test of
Written English (TWE) and Test of Spoken
English (TSE). Applications for admission to
the test should be made to TOEFL,
Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ
08541-6155, USA.
43
Application
Admission Procedure
Specific requirements for each graduate
program are to be found under the appropriate
headings in this Bulletin and on the
information sheet with the application. Each
applicant should consult these requirements
before filing an application. Except in unusual
circumstances, a student may apply to only
one graduate program. An applicant should
write to the Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences, stating which program of study he
or she wishes to enter. A Guide to Graduate
Admissions with appropriate forms will be
forwarded to the applicant. Applicants may
download the Application for Admission from
the University Website; they may also apply
electronically from the Website. The
Application for Admission should be
completed and returned in duplicate as soon
as possible.
All applicants are considered on a
competitive basis. The number of students
admitted each year in each program is limited
so that the Graduate School may operate
effectively under its distinctive principles of
individualized study and apprenticeship.
Consequently, admission may sometimes be
denied to qualified persons. Meeting the
minimum standards of admission merely
qualifies the applicant for a place in the group
from which final selections will be made.
Selections are based on the applicant’s ability
to do graduate work of high quality, as shown
by the distinction of his or her previous
record, particularly in the proposed area of
study; the letters of recommendation
submitted in support of the application; and
his or her presumed adaptability to the
particular graduate programs offered by
Brandeis University. In addition, knowledge
of foreign languages, relevant practical
experience in the field, samples of work, the
results of the GRE, and indications of
character are considered.
Applications for admission for the spring
term should be filed by December 1. Ph.D.
candidates are rarely admitted at midyear,
and those who do gain admission are eligible
for financial aid. Master’s candidates may be
admitted and are eligible for financial aid.
All applicants must arrange to forward, in
duplicate, official transcripts of all
undergraduate and graduate work. In
addition, they must submit at least two
letters of recommendation, preferably from
professors with whom they have studied in
their proposed area of study. Applicants who
have engaged in graduate study elsewhere
should request at least one of the
recommendations from a professor with
whom they have done graduate work.
Many programs also require the submission
of samples of work as well as the materials
described above. Applicants should consult
program requirements in a later section of
this Bulletin for enumeration of additional
materials to be submitted.
All applications must be accompanied by the
application fee of $60. The fee is payable by
check or money order to Brandeis University,
or by credit card for applications submitted
via our Website. No application will be
processed until this fee is paid. There is a
one-time fee waiver for Brandeis students,
alumni, and staff.
Each application for admission with all
supporting records is first examined by the
appropriate program committee. The
committee recommends to the dean of arts
and sciences which applicants should be
selected for admission and financial aid. The
dean reviews all applications in the light of
the program’s recommendations.
Acceptance
A student who has been accepted for
admission to the Graduate School will be
notified by a letter specifying the date by
which he or she must accept the offer of
admission and awards, if any. A
matriculation fee of $300 must be filed by
each master’s degree, certificate, or diploma
applicant upon notification of acceptance.
This fee reserves a place in the class and is
credited toward the first semester tuition bill.
If the student fails to enroll or withdraws his
or her application, the matriculation fee is
not refunded. If a student selected for
admission indicates that he or she does not
intend to accept the offer or fails to reply by
the date specified, the admission offer
becomes void and another applicant may be
accepted.
Brandeis University subscribes to the
“Resolution Regarding Scholars, Fellows,
Trainees, and Graduate Assistants” of the
Council of Graduate Schools in the United
States. The resolution states:
Acceptance of an offer of financial support
(such as a graduate scholarship, fellowship,
traineeship, or assistantship) for the next
academic year by a prospective or enrolled
graduate student completes an agreement
that both student and graduate school expect
to honor. In that context, the conditions
affecting such offers and their acceptance
must be defined carefully and understood by
all parties. Students are under no obligation
to respond to offers of financial support prior
to April 15; earlier deadlines for acceptance of
such offers violate the intent of this
Resolution. In those instances in which a
student accepts an offer before April 15, and
subsequently desires to withdraw that
acceptance, the student may submit in
writing a resignation of the appointment at
any time through April 15. However, an
acceptance given or left in force after April 15
commits the student not to accept another
offer without first obtaining a written release
from the institution to which a commitment
has been made. Similarly, an offer by an
institution after April 15 is conditional on
presentation by the student of the written
release from any previously accepted offer. It
is further agreed by the institutions and
organizations subscribing to the above
Resolution that a copy of this Resolution
should accompany every scholarship,
fellowship, traineeship, and assistantship
offer.
Students must provide the Graduate School
office with an official, final transcript of their
undergraduate record, and, if required by the
graduate program, any graduate work in
process at the time of acceptance. In addition,
students who are accepted are required to
complete and return a medical questionnaire
and a health insurance form. Registration is
conditional upon receipt by University
Health Services of these required forms.
If, after having been admitted, a student
cannot attend, he or she should notify the
Graduate School as soon as possible. If such a
student wishes to be admitted in a
subsequent academic year, he or she must
request reactivation of the application at the
appropriate time, and update it with a new
statement of purpose and official transcripts,
if applicable.
Applicants who have been denied admission
may reapply in a later year, particularly if
they have had further training that would
strengthen their applications or if they can
submit additional letters of recommendation.
44
Academic Standing
Admission is valid only for one academic
year. Graduate programs normally review
students’ academic progress annually.
Satisfactory academic progress in a program
also involves maintaining the professional
and departmental standards expected in a
particular discipline or program. Academic
insufficiency or failure to make suitable
progress toward the degree may require
withdrawal. A student’s record is reviewed
annually and recommendations for
readmission are made by the graduate
programs. Admission to the Graduate School
does not imply that the successful applicant
will be accepted as a candidate for a graduate
degree. Superior performance at Brandeis
University is essential.
International Students
Requirements for the
Degrees
Graduates of international colleges and
universities who have the equivalent of an
American bachelor’s degree and international
students who have graduated from American
universities may compete for admission and
financial assistance at Brandeis, which is
authorized under federal law to enroll
nonimmigrant alien students.
The following general requirements apply to
the awarding of graduate degrees in all areas
of study. For specific program requirements
students should consult the appropriate
section of this Bulletin. Requirements for
post-baccalaureate certificate and diploma
programs are listed in the relevant program
sections of this Bulletin.
Entrance Examinations
All applicants whose native language is not
English must submit the official score of the
Test of English as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL). Thorough competence in English is
required for study at Brandeis. Applicants
should consult specific programs for
additional test requirements. For information
concerning the administration of the TOEFL,
write to the Educational Testing Service,
Princeton, NJ 08541-6155.
Financial Aid
Financial aid in the form of scholarships and
fellowships is available to outstanding Ph.D.
students. Limited tuition grants are available
on the basis of need to master’s degree
students, however, the total assistance
offered usually covers only a small portion of
the student’s expenses. Hence master’s degree
students, when applying for admission,
should indicate a means of financial support.
Employment
The regulations of the United States
Immigration and Naturalization Service limit
strictly the amount of paid work that a
student from abroad may do. The
International Students and Scholars Office
will provide further information regarding
this issue.
Master of Arts and Master of Science
In order to qualify for a master’s degree, the
student must complete a minimum of one
year’s residency at Brandeis University,
ordinarily computed as eight term courses of
approved study. Some programs require a
two-year residency. Please consult the
appropriate program for detailed information.
Programs offering master’s programs may
require that the candidate demonstrate a
reading knowledge of at least one foreign
language and pass satisfactorily a general or
qualifying examination which, at the
program’s discretion, may be in one or more
parts and may be written, oral or both. Where
a thesis is required for the master’s degree,
two copies must be submitted to the program
chair in final form by the date specified in the
current academic calendar.
The master’s degree must be earned within
four years from the inception of graduate
study at Brandeis University.
Master of Fine Arts
In order to qualify for the degree of Master of
Fine Arts in music, the candidate must
complete a two-year residency at Brandeis
University, ordinarily computed as 12 term
courses at the graduate level, and must meet
the specific requirements for the degree as set
forth under “Music, Requirements for the
Master of Fine Arts Degree”, in a later section
of this Bulletin. Two copies of the thesis or
composition must be submitted to the
program chair in final form by the date
specified in the current academic calendar.
In order to qualify for the degree of Master of
Fine Arts in theater arts, the candidate must
complete a three-year residency in design and
acting, and meet the specific requirements for
the degree as outlined under “Theater Arts,
Requirements for the Master of Fine Arts
Degree”, in a later section of this Bulletin.
Students enrolled for specialization in
dramatic writing must submit two copies of a
play in final form in lieu of a thesis.
The Master of Fine Arts degree must be
earned within five years from the inception of
graduate study at Brandeis University.
45
Doctor of Philosophy
Language Requirements
Degrees in Passing
In order to qualify for the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy, a student must ordinarily
complete a minimum of four years of
graduate study, including three full years of
residence and a fourth year devoted to the
preparation of a doctoral dissertation. Under
certain conditions, credit for advanced
standing will be granted for work taken in
residence in graduate schools of other
universities. Each program reserves the right
to require prospective candidates for the
degree to perform work in excess of its
minimum standards to assure thorough
mastery of the area.
There is no University requirement for
foreign language competency at either the
master’s or doctoral level.
Students enrolled in a Ph.D. program are
allowed to apply for a master’s degree within
that program if they have satisfied all the
requirements for the particular master’s
degree. Students are limited to only one
master’s degree in passing. Students may not
apply for a master’s degree in passing if they
already hold a master’s degree from the
University, unless there is no overlap (double
counting) in the terms used to fulfill the
residency requirements for the two degrees.
Prospective candidates may be required to
demonstrate proficiency in at least one
foreign language. In all areas of study the
student must satisfactorily pass a general or
qualifying examination which, at the
program’s discretion, may be in one or more
parts and may be written, oral, or both. In
addition, all prospective candidates must
write a doctoral dissertation and defend it in a
Final Oral Examination.
Each student will have the opportunity to
develop skills as a teacher through close
supervision of progressive pedagogic
experiences by assisting or teaching a
course(s), as appropriate. Participation in
ongoing discipline-specific as well as skillspecific training through department- and
school-wide seminars during a student’s
teaching apprenticeship in the Graduate
School of Arts and Sciences is expected.
To be eligible for the Ph.D. degree, the
student must (1) complete all course,
residence, and teaching requirements, (2) pass
all language and qualifying examinations, (3)
have written and successfully defended the
doctoral dissertation, and (4) be otherwise in
good standing.
Students entering Brandeis University with
no previous graduate work must earn the
doctorate within eight years from the
inception of study. Students who are granted
credit for a year of graduate work completed
elsewhere must earn the degree within seven
years from the inception of their study at
Brandeis.
Students who have passed the terminal point
for the degree must apply to the Graduate
School for an extension no later than the final
semester prior to the expiration of their time
to degree.
Each program determines which languages
are acceptable as satisfying its foreign
language requirement. Some programs may
not require foreign language competency,
while others may set requirements that will
vary within the subfields offered by those
programs. In programs where languages are
required, students are expected to satisfy the
requirement as soon as possible.
For specific requirements of each program,
consult the program listing in this Bulletin.
Joint Degrees
Interdisciplinary in design, the joint M.A.
degree in women’s studies and a discipline
aims to give M.A. and Ph.D. students a solid
grounding in their discipline-specific program
while offering them the tools with which to
incorporate women’s studies into their areas
of research. This joint master’s option, which
may be pursued as a terminal degree or along
the way to the Ph.D., is available in several
programs that are listed in the women’s
studies section of the catalog. Consult the
relevant sections of this Bulletin regarding
the joint Ph.D. degree programs in NEJS and
sociology, politics and social policy, and
sociology and social policy.
Students who are interested in designing a
joint Ph.D. degree in two doctoral programs
within the University may do so by
petitioning the graduate school with their
proposed program of study early in their
graduate career. The admissions committees
for both programs must approve the petition.
It is understood that the student must satisfy
all the requirements of both programs and
defend one dissertation before a defense
committee comprised of faculty from both
programs. Students should consult the
associate dean of graduate education for more
specific information about applying for a joint
doctoral degree.
Application for Graduate Degrees
and Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
and Diplomas
Candidates for graduate degrees, certificates,
and diplomas must file an application with
the University Registrar per the specified
dates in the academic calendar in the year in
which the degree, certificate, or diploma is to
be awarded. Upon written recommendation
from a candidate’s program or committee that
the application be approved, the record will
be reviewed by the Graduate Council, which
recommends the student to the University’s
Board of Trustees for the award of the degree,
certificate, or diploma. Post-baccalaureate
certificate candidates must have a minimum
of a B- grade point average to be eligible for a
certificate. In case of failure or withdrawal
from candidacy in any year, the student must
reapply by filing a new application in a later
year.
Under special circumstances, a student in the
post-baccalaureate studio art program may be
given permission to return for continued
studies. In this instance, the student would
receive the certificate at the end of his or her
extended course of study.
Dissertation and Final Oral
Examination
When a student is ready to write the doctoral
dissertation, a dissertation reading committee
of no fewer than three faculty members, at
least one of whom is a tenured member of the
faculty and one of whom is outside of the
student’s program, will be appointed by the
chair of the student’s program. The student’s
principal advisor will serve as the chair of
this committee. The dissertation reading
committee will guide the research for and
preparation of the dissertation. This
committee, with the approval of the associate
46
Academic Regulations
dean for graduate education and of the chair
of the student’s program, will appoint a
dissertation examining committee to preside
over the student’s Final Oral Examination
and will notify the candidate of the time and
place of the Final Oral Examination at least
two weeks prior to the scheduled date of the
examination. A student must be registered
and enrolled in the term(s) in wich the
dissertation is defended and submitted to the
Graduate School office. Two copies of the
dissertation, as well as an abstract of no more
than 350 words, should be submitted to the
dissertation reading committee for approval.
The style and format of the dissertation is
determined by each program.
The dissertation, when approved by the
readers, must then be deposited in the
program office where it will be available for
inspection by all interested members of the
faculty for at least two weeks prior to the
Final Oral Examination.
The program will publish the time and place
of the candidate’s Final Oral Examination and
the title of the doctoral dissertation. The
Final Oral Examination will be open to any
member of the faculty engaged in graduate
instruction and invited faculty members from
other institutions.
The dissertation examining committee,
approved by the program chair and the
associate dean for graduate education, must
be comprised of a minimum of three faculty
examiners, at least one of whom shall be a
tenured member of the faculty and one of
whom shall be from a graduate program
outside the student’s own, in a related area.
The latter may be a faculty member from
another university.
The examination may be restricted to a
defense of the dissertation or may cover the
whole field of the dissertation. The candidate
will be notified by his or her program of
responsibility for coverage prior to the
examination.
A report, signed by the dissertation
examining committee, certifying the
candidate’s successful performance on the
Final Oral Examination, will be submitted to
the University Registrar.
If the dissertation examining committee
requires substantial revisions of the
dissertation text, the revisions must be
completed and accepted by the committee
within six months of the dissertation defense,
otherwise the dissertation must be
redefended.
Deposit and Publication of
Dissertation
No later than the dates specified in the
current academic calendar for February and
May degrees, the candidate must deposit in
the Graduate School office one copy of the
finished dissertation in a state suitable for
microfilm and Xerox publication. The
dissertation must have the signed approval of
the dissertation supervisor and readers. The
original, hardbound copy, will be returned to
the students along with a xerographic
softbound copy. Softbound copies will also be
distributed to the department and to the
library. The library will also receive a
microfiche copy. Dissertations submitted
electronically will be processed through
University Microfilms in the same manner as
paper submissions, however, if a hardbound
copy is desired, the student must also supply
a paper copy to the Graduate School office.
The University has a policy of depositing
dissertations in the Brandeis libraries and
making them available to students and
scholars for research purposes. The candidate
must also submit one copy of an abstract of
the dissertation, not to exceed 350 words,
that has been approved by the dissertation
supervisor.
Detailed instructions for submitting
dissertations are available from the Graduate
School office. See also the statement in this
Bulletin, under “Fees and Expenses,” on the
final doctoral fee.
Registration
Every resident, post-resident, and
continuation student must register at the
beginning of each term, whether attending
regular courses of study, carrying on research
or independent reading, writing a thesis or
dissertation, or utilizing any academic service
or facility of the University.
Program of Study
Before enrolling, the student should plan a
program of study in consultation with the
chair or graduate advisor of the program.
Graduate students may not register for an
undergraduate course (numbered below 100)
for degree, certificate (except in premedical
studies), or diploma credit unless they
complete a special petition available in the
Office of the University Registrar, which
requires the signatures of the instructor of
that course and their program chair or
graduate advisor. Credit will not be given for
undergraduate courses taken to make up
deficiencies in the student’s preparation for a
program of graduate studies. Ordinarily a
student may not receive credit toward
completion of degree or residence
requirements for courses undertaken to aid in
the completion of language requirements.
Students wishing to drop a full-year course at
midyear must complete a special petition
available in the Office of the University
Registrar, which requires the signatures of
the instructor of the course and the chair of
their program.
At the end of the registration period (see
“Academic Calendar” for specific date), all
course enrollments are considered to be final.
Auditing Courses
The privilege of auditing courses without fee
is extended to all regularly enrolled, full-time
graduate students except Special Students.
Special Students may audit courses by paying
for them at the same rate as those taken for
credit. No courses may be audited without
the permission of the instructor. Auditors
may not take examinations or expect
evaluation from the instructor. No credit is
given for an audited course.
47
Change of Program
Incompletes
Students are allowed to drop courses after the
end of the registration period. To do so, a
program change form is obtained from and
returned to the Office of the University
Registrar. Courses must be dropped no later
than one week prior to the beginning of the
examination period.
A student who has not completed the
research or written work for any course may
receive an EI (incomplete) or a failing grade at
the discretion of the course instructor. A
student who receives an EI must
satisfactorily complete the work of the course
in which the incomplete was given in order
to receive credit for the course and a letter
grade. An incomplete, unless given by reason
of the student’s failure to attend a final
examination, must be made up no later than
the end of the term following the term in
which it was received.* When failure to take
a final examination has resulted in an EI,
resolution of that EI to a letter grade must
occur within six weeks of the beginning of
the next term. An EI that is not resolved
within the stated time limits will
automatically become a permanent
incomplete (I). A student may petition the
associate dean for graduate education for a
change in a permanent incomplete, provided
the petition is signed by the instructor of the
course and the program chair.
Absence from Examinations
Students who are absent from a midyear or
final examination without an accepted excuse
will receive a failing grade for that
examination. No students may be excused
from such examination unless for emergency
or medical reasons, nor may they be excused
if they were able to notify the instructor in
advance and failed to do so. Cases involving
absence are referred to the chair of the
program who will decide whether a make-up
examination shall be allowed and will notify
the Office of the University Registrar of the
decision. The examination must be taken
within six weeks of the opening of the next
term.
Grades and Course Standards
Graduate students are expected to maintain
records of distinction in all courses. Letter
grades will be used in all courses in which
grading is possible. In readings or research
courses, if a letter grade cannot be given at
the end of each term or academic year, credit
(CR) or no credit (NC) may be used.
NC and any letter grade below B- are
unsatisfactory grades in the Graduate School.
A course in which the student receives an
unsatisfactory grade will not be counted
toward graduate credit. Post-baccalaureate
and diploma students must have at least a Baverage to be eligible for the certificate or
diploma.
At the end of each academic year the Office
of the University Registrar issues to each
student a formal grade report.
*Students are required to submit work to
faculty in a timely manner to ensure
completion of courses.
Credit for Work Done Elsewhere
Graduate-level courses taken prior to
matriculation at Brandeis may not be applied
to reduce a one-year residence requirement
for the Master of Arts or Master of Science
degrees, although a program may accept work
taken elsewhere in partial fulfillment of
specific course requirements for the degree. In
that case, additional courses are designated to
replace courses from which the student has
been exempted. The post-baccalaureate and
diploma programs do not accept transfer
credit.
A maximum of one term of residence credit
for graduate-level courses may be counted
toward fulfillment of the residence
requirements for the Master of Fine Arts
degree and for the master’s degree programs
that have a two-year residence requirement.
Students admitted to Ph.D. programs may file
an application to have graduate-level courses
counted toward fulfillment of residence
requirements at this institution. A maximum
of one year of residence credit may be
granted.
Applicants for transfer credit will not
necessarily be granted the credit requested.
Each program reserves the right to require of
any student work in excess of its minimum
standards to assure thorough mastery of the
area of study. In all cases, courses being
transferred must carry a grade of B or better
and must have been earned at an
appropriately accredited institution.
After completing one term of residence at a
full-time rate or the equivalent at a part-time
rate, students eligible to apply for transfer
credit may do so. Forms are obtained from the
Office of the University Registrar and
submitted to the student’s program for
approval. The form is then returned to the
Office of the University Registrar.
Credit for work at another institution taken
concurrently with studies in the Graduate
School must be approved for potential
transfer credit by the student’s program and
the associate dean for graduate education
prior to registration for such courses. Such
approval is granted only in unusual
circumstances and such credit does not count
toward the residency requirement. Students
enrolled in the five-year B.A./M.A. program
are not eligible to count such credit toward
the residency requirement. Students who
formally cross-register with Boston College,
Boston University, or Tufts University
through the consortium do not need prior
approval from the dean’s office nor is it
required for coursework at the Graduate
Consortium for Women’s Studies at Radcliffe
College.
Residence Requirements
Residence requirements for all graduate
degrees are computed by determining the
amount of registration for credit and the
tuition charges. Part-time students pursuing
part-time programs of study for credit
complete their residence requirements when
their fractional programs (one-quarter, onehalf, three-quarters) total the amount
required of a full-time student.
Master of Arts and Master of Science
The minimum residence requirement for
most master’s degree students is one
academic year in a full-time graduate credit
program at the full tuition or the equivalent
thereof in part-time study. A few programs
have a two-year residency requirement so
consult specific programs for this
information. Transfer credit may not
normally be applied to residence
requirements for the M.A. and M.S. degrees.
48
Master of Fine Arts
The minimum residence requirement for all
M.F.A. students in music is four terms at a
full-time rate, at the full tuition rate for each
term, or the equivalent thereof in part-time
study. Residence may be reduced by a
maximum of one term with approved transfer
credit.
The minimum residence for students in
design and acting is six terms at the full
tuition rate or the equivalent thereof in parttime study. Residence may be reduced by a
maximum of one term with approved transfer
credit.
Doctor of Philosophy
The residence requirement for all students is
three academic years in a full-time graduate
credit program for each year, at the full
tuition rate for each year, or the equivalent
thereof in part-time study. A maximum of
one year’s approved transfer credit may be
granted toward residence for the Ph.D. degree.
Full-Time Resident Students
A full-time student is one who devotes the
entire time, during the course of the
academic year, to a program of graduate work
at Brandeis University. Full-time students
should consult with their advisors before
taking on any outside commitments that
might interfere with their academic progress.
A full-time program may include a
combination of teaching and research
assistance, other work leading to the
fulfillment of degree requirements, such as
preparation for qualifying, comprehensive,
and final examinations, supervised reading
and research, and Ph.D. dissertations, as well
as regular course work.
A full-time resident student may take as
many courses for credit in any term as are
approved by the program chair, but no
student may receive credit for, or be charged
for, more than a full-time program in any
term. Thus the minimum residence
requirement for any degree may not be
satisfied by an accelerated program of study
or payment of more than the full-time tuition
rate in any single academic year.
Graduate Summer Term
Continuation Students
Graduate summer term exists to register
students who are required to be on campus or
at a related lab for the full year while engaged
in taking classes and/or doing research
germane to their field of study, and to enable
students completing their degrees during the
summer to have a registration status when
classes are not in session. Students who are
not required to be on campus during the
summer but who are engaged in research to
complete their degrees, may also wish to
enroll to become eligible for loans. Ph.D.
students register for CONT 250b (Summer
Research). Master degree students register for
CONT 500b. Details about graduate summer
term are mailed to students each spring.
A graduate student who has completed all
degree requirements except the dissertation
(and in some cases the teaching requirement)
is eligible for continuation status. A student
in this category may enroll on either a halftime basis or a full-time basis, and is eligible
for University health insurance, borrowing
privileges in the Library, a computer account,
use of gym facilities, and purchase of a
parking sticker. They are not normally
eligible for fellowships or for leaves of
absence, except for health reasons.
Part-Time Resident Students
A part-time student is one who devotes less
than the entire time to a program of graduate
work at Brandeis University. Students may
register for a credit program of one-quarter,
one-half, or three-quarters time.
Students receiving financial aid from the
University, who wish to change their status
from full-time to part-time residency, must
file with the Graduate School office an
explanation of why full-time study is no
longer possible.
Post-Resident Students
A graduate student who has completed
residence requirements and who needs to
utilize the full range of academic services and
University facilities while completing degree
requirements is a post-resident student and
should register for CONT 500a/b, or the
appropriate courses required to complete
their programs.
Continuation students must enroll before the
end of registration period each semester in
either CONT 510a/b (half-time status) or
CONT 520a/b (full-time status). For
questions regarding these enrollments please
contact the Office of the University Registrar.
International students must enroll in
CONT 520a/b (full-time status). Please
contact ISSO (International Students and
Scholars Office) if there are special
circumstances.
Post-Baccalaureate Students
A post-baccalaureate or diploma student is a
graduate student who is working in an
approved course of study. Normal tuition
charges apply; see the fees and expenses
section for program-specific fees.
Post-baccalaureate or diploma programs may
not be pursued concurrently with other
formal degree work. Students who
subsequently become candidates for graduate
degrees are subject to the Graduate School’s
policy regarding transfer credit towards
graduate degrees.
Special Students
Properly qualified applicants who wish to
audit or to take courses without working for a
degree may be admitted. Special Students are
normally not eligible for University loans,
scholarships, fellowships, or teaching or
research assistantships. Special Students who
later wish to change their status to that of
part-time or full-time students working for a
degree must apply for admission as resident
students. They must also file a special
petition if they wish credit to be accepted for
any courses taken at Brandeis as Special
Students. Credit for such course work may be
granted in exceptional cases. Normally, no
more than two courses taken for credit may
be transferable if the student is admitted to
either the master’s or doctoral program.
49
Leave of Absence
Withdrawal
Graduate Cross-Registration
Students may petition for a leave of absence.
The petition must have the approval of the
chair of the program and the Graduate
School. Leaves of absence up to one year will
normally be granted to students in good
academic standing who present compelling
personal reasons. Returns from leave may be
subject to conditions established at the
inception of the leave. Time spent on
authorized leaves of absence will not be
counted toward the maximum time
permitted to complete degree requirements.
A student who wishes to withdraw
voluntarily from the Graduate School during
a semester must do so in writing to the
program chair and the Graduate School on or
before the last day of instruction in the term.
Failure to notify the University in writing of
a withdrawal may subject the student to loss
of eligibility for refunds in accordance with
the refund schedule outlined in the fees and
expenses section. Permission to withdraw
voluntarily will not be granted if the student
has not discharged all financial obligations to
the University or has not made financial
arrangements satisfactory to the Bursar.
A full-time graduate student at Brandeis
University may enroll in one graduate course
each term at Boston College, Boston
University, Tufts University, or the Graduate
Consortium in Women’s Studies at Radcliffe
College. Information on courses for crossregistration at each of the host institutions is
available at the Graduate School office of
each institution.
If, for any reason, a student must extend a
leave of absence, he or she must request such
an extension in writing before the leave of
absence expires. Failure to do so will result in
involuntary withdrawal from the Graduate
School. Students who extend their leaves of
absence beyond one year may lose
departmental funding. Should a student wish
to return, the student will be considered for
funding as part of the department’s entering
cohort of students.
Students who are obliged to register and fail
to do so by the appropriate deadline or who
fail to pay their bill will be administratively
withdrawn. They may be readmitted (see
below) for study in a subsequent term, but
not for the term in which they were
withdrawn for failure to register. Belatedly
fulfilling financial obligations will not negate
the effects of administrative withdrawal.
Leave of Absence with Credit
Readmission
Students enrolled in a Ph.D. or master’s
program with a two-year residency may apply
to study abroad with credit. While this option
does not affect the current regulation
concerning the maximum amount of transfer
credit for work done elsewhere, it does allow
a student to receive transfer credit after
matriculation.
A student who has not been enrolled in the
Graduate School for more than one year and
who did not obtain a leave of absence should
file an application for readmission and will be
charged the readmission fee. The student’s
graduate program will determine in each case
whether a student should be readmitted. If
the program’s requirements have changed
during the student’s absence or the student is
not deemed current in his or her field of
study, the program may require the student
to repeat or supplement previous academic
requirements including foreign language or
qualifying exams. When a student is
reinstated, he or she will be informed of
current status regarding credits and time to
degree.
To qualify for transfer credit upon return, a
student must submit to his or her program
prior to studying abroad a list of proposed
courses to be approved by the graduate
program chair. The courses must be at the
graduate level and constitute a full-time
course load. Since the University Registrar
must certify full-time status for purposes of
loan deferment and federal loan eligibility,
the application must include documentation
related to the formulation of full-time status
at the host school as well as the name of the
contact person at the host school. To receive
credit upon return, a student must earn
grades of at least B and submit an official
transcript along with the Transfer for Credit
petition to the Registrar’s office.
A student who wishes to enroll in a course at
one of these institutions should consult with
the instructor in the particular course and
should expect to satisfy the prerequisites and
requirements normally required for
admission to the course, including adherence
to the academic calendar of that course.
A student at Brandeis University who wishes
to enroll in a graduate course at one of the
host institutions should obtain a registration
permit from the Office of the University
Registrar and should present this permit to
the Office of the University Registrar of the
host institution.
50
Fees and Expenses
Payment of tuition and other fees is due on
August 1, 2003, for the fall semester and
January 2, 2004, for the spring semester. A
student who has not paid such fees by the day
of registration will be refused the privilege of
registration.
Tuition Fees
The fees for tuition in the Graduate School
for 2003-04 are as follows:
The monthly payment plan allows the year’s
charges to be paid in 10 equal monthly
installments. Academic Management
Services (AMS) has contracted with Brandeis
to administer the monthly payment plan. The
application and a nonrefundable handling fee
of $100 must be returned to AMS by July 15,
2003. For any applications returned by July
15, 2003, the payment plan electronic
withdrawals will begin on August 1, 2003.
Post-resident students: $1,812 per year.
Contact the Office of Student Financial
Services for further information.
A student who defaults in the payment of
indebtedness to the University shall be
subject to suspension, dismissal, and refusal
of a transfer of credits or issuance of an
official transcript.
Such indebtedness includes, but is not
limited to, delinquency of a borrower in
repaying a loan administered by the student
loan office and the inability of that office to
collect such a loan because the borrower has
discharged the indebtedness through
bankruptcy proceedings. If the student is a
degree, certificate, or diploma candidate, his
or her name will be stricken from the rolls.
A student who has been suspended or
dismissed for nonpayment of indebtedness to
the University may not be reinstated until
such indebtedness is paid in full.
Application Fee: $60.
Payable by all applicants for admission at the
time the application for admission is
submitted. It is not refundable. Checks and
money orders should be made payable to
Brandeis University. No application for
admission will be processed until this fee is
paid. There is a one-time fee waiver for
Brandeis students and alumni.
Matriculation Deposit: $300.
Payable by a master’s degree, certificate, or
diploma applicant upon notification of
acceptance. This fee reserves a place in the
class and is credited toward the first semester
tuition bill. If a student fails to enroll or
withdraws his or her application, the
matriculation deposit is forfeited.
Full-time resident students: $28,999 per year,
or $14,499.50 per term.
Continuation Fee: $906 per year.
Post-baccalaureate studio art students and
Artist Diploma students: $17,000 per year.
Special Students, post-baccalaureate
computer science, premedical students, and
part-time resident students: $3,625 per
course, per term.
In view of the constantly increasing costs of
education, students may expect one or more
tuition increases during their academic
careers.
Post-Baccalaureate Program Fees
Medical school application processing fee:
$50, one-time fee payable on entrance.
Orientation Fee: $35.
A one-time fee payable by students entering
for the first time.
Technology Fee: $175 per year.
Final Doctoral Fee: $325.
This fee covers all costs for the year in which
the Ph.D. degree will be conferred, including
the costs for the full publishing services for
the dissertation; publication of the abstract of
the dissertation in Dissertation Abstracts;
issuance of a Library of Congress number,
appropriate library cards, and deposit of the
dissertation in digital format at the Library of
Congress; binding four copies of the
dissertation—one hardbound for the author,
and three xerographic softbound copies (for
the author, department, and library); and a
microfiche for the Brandeis library. The Final
Doctoral Fee covers the rental expenses for
academic robes for graduation and the cost of
the diploma.
Note: All candidates for the Ph.D. degree
must pay the $325 Final Doctoral Fee at the
Office of Student Financial Services before
they file their application for degree with the
Office of the University Registrar.
Returned Check Fee: $25.
A bank service fee will be charged to a
student’s account if a payment or a check
negotiated through Brandeis is returned by
the bank for any reason.
Readmission Fee: $300.
Payable by a student who, after withdrawal,
suspension, or dismissal for more than one
year, has been reinstated with the consent of
the dean of arts and sciences.
Transcript Fee: $5.
Students, former students, and graduates
should request official transcripts of their
records from the Office of the University
Registrar, Kutz Hall. Students are entitled to
20 formal transcripts of their academic work
without charge. A charge of $5 will be made
for each subsequent transcript. Requests by
mail for transcripts must be accompanied by
a check in the correct amount payable to
Brandeis University. Official transcripts will
be issued only to those students whose
University financial records are in order.
Diploma Fee: $45.
Payable by candidates for the master’s degree
at the Office of Student Financial Services
before they file their application for degree
with the Office of the University Registrar.
Student Health Services Fee: $411.
Entitles the full-time graduate student to use
of Health Services.
Student Health Insurance Plan (single
coverage): $898.
All three-quarter or full-time students are
required by state law to show certification of
health insurance. Students without insurance
of their own must purchase the Student
Health Insurance Plan through the
University. The fee is payable prior to
registration and no portion is refundable.
Student insurance is optional for special
students. Additional insurance options,
including family coverage, are described in A
Guide to University Health Services, which is
available from the Office of Health Services.
Parking Fee: $35-150.
Payable annually at fall registration for
privilege of parking an automobile on
campus. Fee varies with assigned parking
area.
Monthly Payment Plan Fee: $100.00.
Late Fee: $300-500.
51
Financial Assistance
Refunds
The only fee that may be refundable, in part,
is the tuition fee. No refund of the tuition fee
will be made because of illness, absence, or
dismissal during the academic year. A
student who is withdrawing must notify the
Graduate School in writing; refunds will be
based on the date of notification and
calculated in accordance with the following:
1. Tuition
Withdrawal
Before the opening day of instruction: 100%
of the term’s tuition.
On or before the second Friday following the
opening day of instruction: 75% of the term’s
tuition.
On or before the fifth Friday following the
opening day of instruction: 50% of the term’s
tuition.
To help students whose records indicate
scholarly promise, the University makes
available special scholarships and fellowships
and a variety of awards. All awards are
granted and accepted with the understanding
that they may be revoked or reduced at any
time for undesirable conduct or poor
academic standing.
Ordinarily, no student may hold a fellowship
or scholarship for more than two years of
study for the master’s degree, more than three
years of study for the M.F.A. degree, or more
than four years of study for the Ph.D. degree.
Priority in making awards is given to fulltime students.
Students receiving financial aid from Brandeis
University, whether in the form of a
scholarship or fellowship are required to
maintain a superior level of academic
progress.
After the fifth Friday following the opening
day of instruction: no refund.
All students contemplating outside
employment that would require a significant
portion of their time should discuss their
intentions with their program advisor.
Requests for refunds should be addressed to
the Office of Student Financial Services.
Title IV Cancellations
2. Scholarship
In the case of a scholarship student who
withdraws, the student’s account will be
credited with the same proportion of the term
scholarship as charged for tuition: 75% if the
student leaves on or before the second Friday;
50% on or before the fifth Friday and no
refund thereafter.
If you have been awarded a student loan
(Federal Stafford or Perkins) you have a right
to cancel all or a portion of your loan or loan
disbursement. To do so, please submit a
written request to: The Graduate School of
Arts and Sciences, Brandeis University,
Mailstop 031, P.O. Box 549110, Waltham,
MA 02454-9110.
3. Stafford Loans
In compliance with federal law, special
refund arrangements apply to first-time
students receiving aid under Title IV. Contact
the Graduate School financial aid officer for
additional information.
A request for loan cancellation or adjustment
must be made before the end of the academic
year or prior to leaving school whichever
comes first, and must state which loan(s) and
what amount(s) you wish to cancel.
Cancellation of your awarded student loan(s)
will most likely create a balance due on your
account. This balance would be due and
payable upon receipt of the statement.
Scholarships
A scholarship is an award on grounds of
scholarly ability that will be used exclusively
for remission of tuition fees. Full scholarships
and partial scholarships are available.
Scholarship students are liable for all but
tuition charges.
Fellowships
A fellowship is an academic award of honor
to outstanding students to help them in
furthering advanced study, research, and
training in teaching. A fellowship recipient
must pay tuition fees unless the award
includes a scholarship in an amount covering
tuition.
Research Assistantships
Research assistantships are available in
several programs, especially the science areas.
Application should be made to the chair of
the graduate program.
Dean’s Fellowship
Brandeis University established in 1995 the
Dean’s Fellowship. This fellowship was
created in order to encourage students from
groups whose under-representation in the
nation’s Ph.D. population has been severe and
long-standing to pursue doctoral studies in
the humanities, social sciences, and creative
arts at the Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences at Brandeis. The Dean’s Fellowship
will provide four years of funding with a ninemonth stipend, assuming satisfactory
academic progress.
Factors considered in eligibility include
financial need, first generation status, and/or
membership in a traditionally
underrepresented group. In order to qualify
for the Dean’s Fellowship, applicants must be
nominated by one of the following programs:
American history, anthropology, comparative
history, English and American literature,
music, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies,
psychology, politics, or sociology.
Students who wish to be considered for the
Dean’s Fellowship should express their
interest in the statement of purpose included
with their application.
52
The Heller School for
Social Policy and
Management
Tuition Grants
A limited number of need-based grants are
available for master’s candidates who are
enrolled at least half-time. Students may
apply for need-based grants by completing the
CSS financial aid PROFILE.
The terms for the above loan programs are
subject to federal legislation, regulations, and
other guidance, and may change. Additional
current information is available from the
Graduate School.
Students wishing to apply for loans should
contact the Graduate School for application
materials.
Loans
Satisfactory Academic Progress
The Perkins Loan is a federal loan, awarded
on a limited basis to the neediest students.
Students may be considered for this loan only
if unmet financial need remains after a
subsidized Stafford Loan has been awarded.
Interest is not charged and repayment is not
expected while the borrower is enrolled at
least half-time. During repayment, interest is
charged at the fixed rate of 5% and repayment
may be made over a 10-year period. Students
must file a Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for this
loan.
Direct Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans are
available to U.S. citizens and permanent
residents who are enrolled at least half-time
in a degree, certificate, or diploma program
and who demonstrate need by filing the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Graduate students may borrow up to $8,500
per year in subsidized money. Postbaccalaureate certificate and diploma
students may borrow up to $5,500 per year.
The maximum aggregate limit for the
program (including undergraduate borrowing)
is $65,500.
Direct Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
are available to students who are not eligible
for subsidized Stafford Loans based on need.
Applicants must still file the FAFSA.
Graduate students may borrow up to a
maximum of $10,000 a year ($5,000 for
independent post-baccalaureate students)
with an aggregate maximum of $73,000 in
unsubsidized money. Eligible students may
borrow from the subsidized and the
unsubsidized Stafford programs as long as the
annual total does not exceed $18,500.
Repayment of a Stafford Loan begins six
months after the borrower ceases to be
enrolled at least half-time. The repayment
period is 10 years, during which time interest
is charged. There is no interest charged
during the in-school period for subsidized
loans. However, students are required to pay
the interest during the in-school period or
have it capitalized and added to the loan
balance for the unsubsidized loan.
Federal regulations require that a student
receiving federal assistance make satisfactory
academic progress in accordance with
standards set by the University. The
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
delegates the responsibility to monitor
academic progress to the individual graduate
programs. Admission to the Graduate School
is valid for one academic year. Graduate
programs review students’ academic progress
and make recommendations for readmission
annually. Any student who is readmitted for
the following year is considered to be making
satisfactory academic progress and is eligible
for financial aid from federal sources.
Students who enter the Graduate School of
Arts and Sciences must earn the doctorate
within eight years, the Master of Arts within
four years, the Master of Fine Arts within five
years, and the post-baccalaureate certificate
and the diploma within two years from the
inception of study exclusive of leaves of
absence (pro-rated for part-time study).
Students who have passed the terminal point
for the degree may apply to the Graduate
School of Arts and Sciences for an extension
and, if approved, may be eligible for
additional federal financial aid.
History and Organization
Founded in 1959 as the University’s first
professional school, The Heller School for
Social Policy and Management is committed
to developing new knowledge and insights in
the field of social policy and in health and
human services management. The
fundamental mission of the School—
knowledge advancing social justice—is
realized through the knowledge that we
create, the education that our students
receive, the accomplishment of our alumni,
and the extent to which our work transcends
the boundaries between academia and the
broader society, in the United States and
internationally.
The Heller School continues to keep the
concepts of social justice and human health
and well-being in the forefront of the public
conscience. The School and its nationally
renowned research centers have pioneered in
a variety of policy areas including:
Health
Mental Health
Substance Abuse
Children, Youth, and Families
Aging
International and Community Development
Disabilities
Work and Inequality
Hunger and Poverty
The Heller School continues to be ranked
among the top 10 schools of social policy by
U.S. News and World Report magazine. The
School offers the Ph.D. in social policy, the
M.B.A. or the M.M. in health and human
services management, and the M.A. in
sustainable international development. The
Heller School offers dual and joint degree
options with politics, sociology, women’s
studies, and the Hornstein Program in Jewish
Communal Service. The Heller School gives
its master’s and doctoral students solid
training in research or management and broad
grounding in social policy. All students
benefit from the resources and expertise of
the The Heller School’s six social policy
research centers:
The Schneider Institute for Health Policy
The Institute for Sustainable Development
The Family and Child Policy Center
The National Center on Women and Aging
The Starr Center for Mental Retardation
The Center on Hunger and Poverty
53
Admission
Objectives
Our three degree programs are designed
explicitly to bridge the gap between theory
and practice. Students will be actively
engaged in examining policies and programs
that respond to the changing needs of
vulnerable individuals and social groups in
contemporary societies, be they vulnerable as
a result of economic hardship, illness,
disability, age (young or old), or
discrimination based on race, ethnicity,
gender, or sexual orientation. These core
values are reflected in our deep commitment
to beneficial social change, our respect for
public service, and our investment in the
development of public and private sector
policies and practices that enhance human
development.
Degree Programs
The Ph.D. Program in Social Policy
Our doctoral program educates students for
careers in research, planning, administration,
and policy analysis. Students are immersed in
an integrated curriculum that focuses on
intensive scholarly preparation in general and
specialized social policy areas and apply what
they learn to real-world problems. Students
graduate with honed research skills and a
strong working knowledge of various social
science disciplines. The Heller School offers
joint Ph.D. programs with the Departments
of Politics and Sociology.
The M.B.A. and M.M. Programs in Health and
Human Services
Our M.B.A. (human services) and Master of
Management programs prepare managers for
leadership positions in a range of health and
human services organizations. An effective
manager needs more than good intentions and
people skills. Especially in the turbulent and
rapidly changing arena of public and private,
for-profit, and not-for-profit health and
human services organizations, one needs
solid managerial knowledge to negotiate with
a plethora of stakeholders. The M.B.A. and
M.M. programs combine The Heller School’s
powerful social policy resources with a
context-specific management curriculum to
make this master’s program unique when
compared to traditional programs in business,
management, public administration, health
administration, social work, and public
health. The Heller School offers a dual
M.B.A./M.A. and M.M./M.A. with the
Hornstein Program in Jewish Communal
Service.
The M.A. in Sustainable International
Development
Our M.A. program in sustainable
international development imparts the
knowledge and skills necessary to design and
to manage local, regional, national, or
international development. Students in the
SID program examine models of
development, considering if they are
effective, if they reduce poverty and
inequality, and if they raise the quality of life.
Students consider the state of world
development, probe issues that affect future
generations, and broaden the skills necessary
to plan, negotiate, implement, monitor, and
evaluate development programs. Students
enjoy a year in residence studying with senior
researchers and field-level development
practitioners as well as a second year field
project, internship, or advanced study
applying and evaluating methods and models
of development.
How to Apply to The Heller School
for Social Policy and Management
Application procedures for each program may
be obtained by contacting the relevant
admissions offices and by visiting the Heller
Website. All applicants should demonstrate a
commitment to addressing some of the
world’s most pressing social issues as well as
a readiness to take on graduate-level work.
Additional information regarding admission
requirements, policies, and procedures, is
available at www.heller.brandeis.edu or by
contacting the Office of Admissions at 800279-4105 or HellerAdmissions@brandeis.edu
for information about the Ph.D. and M.B.A./
M.M. program, or the SID Admissions Office
at 781-736-2770, or sidrecruit@brandeis.edu
for information about the M.A./SID program.
Test Scores and Deadlines
The Ph.D. Program
Applicants to the Ph.D. in social policy
program must submit application materials
by December 15 for fall start (September).
The application process and requirements for
full-time and part-time applicants are the
same. All applicants must submit a
completed and signed application form with
fee, statement of purpose, writing sample,
transcripts, test scores, letters of
recommendation, and resume.
Applicants to the Ph.D. in social policy
program must submit test results of either
the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or
the Miller’s Analogies Test (MAT). Test
scores may not be more than five years old.
The Heller School does not have minimum
cutoff scores, and test results are considered
in conjunction with an applicant’s
educational background and professional
experience. International applicants whose
native language is not English or who have
not completed a degree program in the United
States, must also submit results from the
Test of English as a Foreign Language exam
(TOEFL). Scores may not be more than five
years old and must be at least 600 (paperbased exam or equivalent computer-based
score). All test results should be sent directly
to the admissions office using The Heller
School’s Institution Code for each exam: GRE
and/or TOEFL: 3097 and MAT: 2569.
Information regarding the GRE, MAT, or
TOEFL exams can be obtained from the
testing agencies directly at www.gre.org,
www.toefl.org, MAT/ 800-622-3231 or by
contacting the admissions office at 800-2794105 or HellerAdmissions@brandeis.edu.
54
Academic Regulations
M.B.A. and M.M. Program
Applicants to the M.B.A. (human services)
and Master of Management programs must
submit application materials by February 15
for summer start (June/full-time or part-time),
June 1 for fall start (September/part-time) and
by November 1 for spring start (January/parttime). The application process and
requirements for full-time and part-time
applicants are the same. All applicants must
submit the completed and signed application
form and fee, statement of purpose,
management problem analysis, transcripts,
test scores, letters of recommendation, and
professional resume.
Applicants to the Master of Management
degree program can submit test results of
either the Graduate Management Admissions
Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record
Examination (GRE). Applicants to the M.B.A.
(human services) degree program must submit
GMAT results. Test scores may not be more
than five years old. The Heller School does
not have minimum cutoff scores, and test
results are considered in conjunction with an
applicant’s educational background and
professional experience. International
applicants whose native language is not
English or who have not completed a degree
program in the United States, must also
submit results from the Test of English as a
Foreign Language exam (TOEFL). Scores may
not be more than five years old and must be
at least 600 (paper-based exam or equivalent
computer-based score). All test results should
be sent directly to the admissions office using
The Heller School’s Institution Code for each
exam: GMAT, GRE, and TOEFL: 3097.
Information regarding these exams can be
obtained from the testing agencies directly at
www.gmat.org, www.gre.org, www.toefl.org
or by contacting the admissions office at 800279-4105 or HellerAdmissions@brandeis.edu.
The M.A./SID Program
Applicants to the M.A./SID program must
submit application materials by June 1 for a
fall start. All applicants must submit the
completed and signed application form and
fee (the fee is waived for applicant from
developing countries and Peace Corps
Volunteers), statement of purpose,
transcripts, test scores, letters of
recommendation, and professional resume.
Applicants whose native language is not
English must submit a score report from
IELTS or the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL) (minimum for TOEFL is
500 and CB TOEFL is 240, the minimum for
IELTS is 6.5). However, if you have
completed a university-level degree where
English was the language of instruction, you
might be exempted from the TOEFL (after
evaluation of relevant documentation). You
may also submit other documentation as
proof of English proficiency.
For complete information about academic
regulations governing The Heller School’s
Ph.D., M.B.A., M.M., and M.A. programs,
refer to the Academic Policies and Procedures
documents for each degree, available from
The Heller School Office of Student Records.
Academic Standing
The Heller School reviews students’
academic progress annually. Satisfactory
academic progress in a program is essential to
maintain one’s eligibility for funding.
Superior performance at Brandeis University
is essential. Academic insufficiency or failure
to make suitable progress toward the degree
may require withdrawal.
Requirements for the Degree
Detailed information about the requirements
for the degree programs offered by The Heller
School can be found in a later section of this
Bulletin. Please refer to pages 188-190 for the
requirements for specific degrees.
Registration
Every resident, post-resident, and
continuation student must register at the
beginning of each term, whether attending
regular courses of study, carrying on research
or independent reading, writing a thesis or
dissertation, or utilizing any academic service
or facility of the University. Registration
requires enrollment in a course—whether a
regular course, independent research, or a
status course for post-resident and
continuation students.
Students work closely with their advisors in
planning their program of study. All students
file an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) with
The Heller School’s Office of Student
Records. At the end of the registration period
for each term (see “Academic Calendar” for
specific date), no additional courses may be
added to a student’s schedule and enrollment
is considered to be final, unless a student
formally drops a course prior to the drop
deadline.
Auditing Courses
The privilege of auditing courses without fee
is extended to all regularly enrolled full-time,
graduate students. No courses may be audited
without the permission of the instructor.
Auditors may not take examinations or
expect evaluation from the instructor. No
credit is given for an audited course.
Change of Program
Students are allowed to drop courses after the
end of the telephone and Web registration
period. To do so, an Add/Drop Form is
obtained from and returned to The Heller
School Office of Student Records. Courses
must be dropped by the deadline established
in the Academic Calendar.
Grades and Course Standards
Graduate students are expected to maintain
records of distinction in all courses. Letter
grades will be used in all courses for master’slevel students. Doctoral students receive
“satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory.”
Any letter grade below B- is considered
unsatisfactory. A course in which the student
receives an unsatisfactory grade will not be
counted toward graduate credit. Students will
need to work out with their programs how an
unsatisfactory mark in a required course will
be handled.
At the end of each academic year the Office
of the University Registrar issues a formal
grade report to each student.
Incompletes
A student who has not completed the
research or written work for any course may
receive an EI (excused incomplete) or a failing
grade at the discretion of the course
instructor. A student who receives an EI must
satisfactorily complete the work of the course
in which the incomplete was given in order
to receive credit for the course. An
incomplete must be made up no later than
the end of the term following the term in
which it was received. An EI that is not
resolved within the stated time limits will
automatically become a permanent
incomplete (I).
Residence Requirements
Residence requirements for all Heller degrees
are computed by determining the amount of
registration for credit and the tuition charges.
Part-time students pursuing part-time
programs of study for credit complete their
residence requirements when their fractional
programs total the amount required of a fulltime student.
55
Ph.D. Program
Full-time students have a two-year residency
period and must finish all requirements for
the degree in 10 years. Part-time students
have a three-year residency period and have
12 years to finish all degree requirements.
M.B.A./M.M. Program
Full-time students have a 15-month residency
period. Part-time students are expected to
enroll in two courses per semester. Full-time
and part-time students must complete all
degree requirements within six years.
M.A./SID Program
Students have a one-year residency
requirement and must complete all degree
requirements within five years.
Full-Time Resident Students
A full-time student is one who devotes his/
her entire time, during the course of the
academic year, to a program of graduate work
at Brandeis University.
A full-time program may include a
combination of teaching and research
assistance, and other work leading to the
fulfillment of degree requirements, such as
preparation for qualifying, comprehensive,
and final examinations; supervised reading
and research; Ph.D. dissertations; and regular
course work.
A full-time resident student must take a
minimum of three courses (12 credits) per
term unless otherwise approved by their
program director. An accelerated program of
study or payment of more than the full-time
tuition rate in any single academic year may
not satisfy the minimum residence
requirement for any degree.
Part-Time Resident Students
A part-time student is one who devotes less
than the entire time to a program of graduate
work at Brandeis University. Part-time
students are expected to enroll in two courses
per term unless otherwise approved by their
program director.
Students receiving financial aid from the
University who wish to change their status
from full-time to part-time residency must
request permission to do so from their
program director and file their change of
status with The Heller School Office of
Admissions and Financial Aid with an
explanation of why full-time study is no
longer possible.
Post-Resident Students
Leave of Absence
A graduate student who has completed
residence requirements and who needs to
utilize the full range of academic services and
University facilities while completing degree
requirements is a post-resident student. Postresident students must enroll in a status
course (CONT 500) as they are considered to
be full-time students.
Students may petition for a leave of absence.
The petition must have the approval of their
program director. Leaves of absence up to one
year will normally be granted to students.
Leaves of absence beyond one year are
extended only for medical reasons. Any
student wishing to extend the leave of
absence must submit a written request with
medical documentation before the leave
expires. If there are outstanding Incompletes
when a student begins a leave, the student
will not be allowed to re-register until they
have been completed.
Continuation Students
A doctoral student who has completed all
degree requirements (including the
dissertation proposal hearing) except the
dissertation is eligible for continuation
status. A student in this category may enroll
on either a half-time basis (CONT 510a/b) or
a full-time basis (CONT 520a/b). Full-time
continuation students are eligible for
University health insurance, borrowing
privileges in the Library, a computer account,
use of gym facilities, and purchase of a
parking sticker.
A student must be registered and enrolled in
the term(s) in which the dissertation is
defended and submitted to The Heller School
office.
M.A./SID students are considered full-time
continuation students during their second
year when engaged in their field projects.
Special Students
Properly qualified applicants who wish to
take courses without matriculating into a
degree program may be admitted. Special
Students are not eligible for University loans,
scholarships, fellowships, or teaching or
research assistantships. Special Students who
later wish to change their status to that of
part-time or full-time students working for a
degree must apply for admission as resident
students. No more than two courses taken for
credit may be transferable if the student is
admitted to one of The Heller School’s degree
programs.
Withdrawal
A student who wishes to withdraw
voluntarily from The Heller School during a
semester must do so in writing to the
program director and must file their request
with the Office of Student Records before the
last day of instruction of the semester. Failure
to notify in writing of a withdrawal may
subject the student to loss of eligibility for
refunds in accordance with the refund
schedule outlined in the fees and expenses
section. Permission to withdraw voluntarily
will not be granted if the student has not
discharged all financial obligations to the
University or has not made financial
arrangements satisfactory to the bursar.
When a student withdraws during or at the
end of a semester course enrollments are not
expunged from his/her record, rather a grade
of W (“dropped”) is entered for each course.
Students who are obliged to register and fail
to do so by the appropriate deadline or who
fail to pay their bill will be administratively
withdrawn. They may be readmitted (see
below) for study in a subsequent term, but
not for the term in which they were
withdrawn for failure to register. Belatedly
fulfilling financial obligations will not negate
the effects of administrative withdrawal.
Readmission
A student who has not been enrolled in The
Heller School for more than one year and who
did not obtain a leave of absence should file
an application for readmission and will be
charged the readmission fee. The student’s
program will determine in each case whether
a student should be readmitted. If the
program’s requirements have changed during
the student’s absence or the student is not
deemed current in his or her field of study,
the program may require the student to
56
Fees and Expenses
repeat or supplement previous academic
requirements including qualifying exams.
When a student is reinstated, he or she will
be informed of current status regarding
credits and time to degree.
Students who have surpassed their time limit
for the degree may petition their program for
readmission.
Graduate Cross-Registration
A full-time graduate student at Brandeis
University may enroll in one graduate course
each term at Boston College, Boston
University, Tufts University. The Heller
School has cross-registration agreements with
MIT, UMass, and Bentley College School of
Business Administration. Information on
courses for cross-registration at each of the
host institutions is available at the Graduate
School office of each institution.
A student who wishes to enroll in a course at
one of these institutions should consult with
the instructor in the particular course and
should expect to satisfy the prerequisites and
requirements normally required for
admission to the course, including adherence
to the academic calendar of that course.
A student at Brandeis University who wishes
to enroll in a graduate course at one of the
host institutions should obtain a cross
registration petition from The Heller School
Office of Student Records, and should present
this petition to the Office of the University
Registrar of the host institution. The
completed petition should be returned to The
Heller School Office of Student Records.
Tuition and Expenses
The following tuition and fees are in effect for
the 2003-04 academic year. These figures are
subject to annual revision by the Brandeis
Board of Trustees.
Application fee: $50
Payable by all applicants for admission at the
time the application for admission is
submitted.
Program fee (M.A./SID only): $500
Payable by all SID students in the fall of their
second year.
Tuition fees
Ph.D. Program
Full-time: $28,999/year
Part-time: $1,943/course
M.B.A./M.M. Program
Full-time: $8,043.50 per semester (four
semester, 15-month program)
Part-time: $1,693/course
M.A./SID Program
$28,999 for first year
$906 continuation fee for second year
Other Fees
The following are other mandatory annual
fees for 2003-04:
1. Monthly Payment Plan fee: $100.
2. Parking fees: $35-150.
3. Returned Check fee: $25.
4. Late fee: $300-500.
Refunds
The only fee that may be refundable, in part,
is the tuition fee. No refund of the tuition fee
will be made because of illness, absence, or
dismissal during the academic year. A
student who is withdrawing must notify The
Heller School’s senior administrative officer
in writing; refunds will be based on the date
of notification and calculated in accordance
with the following:
1. Tuition
Withdrawal
Before the opening day of instruction: 100%
of the term’s tuition.
On or before the second Friday following the
opening day of instruction: 75% of the term’s
tuition.
On or before the fifth Friday following the
opening day of instruction: 50% of the term’s
tuition.
After the fifth Friday following the opening
day of instruction: no refund.
Requests for refunds should be addressed to
the Office of Student Financial Services.
2. Scholarship
In the case of a scholarship student who
withdraws, the student’s account will be
credited with the same proportion of the term
scholarship as charged for tuition: 75% if the
student leaves on or before the second Friday;
50% on or before the fifth Friday and no
refund thereafter.
3. Stafford Loans
In compliance with federal law, special
refund arrangements apply to first-time
students receiving aid under Title IV. Contact
The Heller School financial aid officer for
additional information.
Financial Aid
The Heller School attempts to assist as many
students as possible in securing financial aid,
although it is expected that candidates for
admission will explore a variety of outside
funding sources, such as private scholarships,
state scholarships, and G.I. Bill benefits. The
Heller School offers scholarships and
fellowships that are awarded on the basis of
financial need and academic merit. These
grants rarely cover the full cost of study plus
living expenses, but, in combination with
Stafford Loans, make up the typical aid
package. Part-time students are not eligible to
receive scholarships or fellowships from The
Heller School.
For more information about fellowships,
scholarships, and loans for all of our degree
programs, visit the The Heller School’s
Website at www.heller.brandeis.edu, or
contact the appropriate admissions office.
57
Brandeis International
Business School
Admission
History and Organization
Objectives
The Brandeis International Business School
(formerly known as the Graduate School of
International Economics and Finance) is a
pioneering professional school dedicated to
teaching and research in global finance,
management, and economic policy.
Established in 1994, the School responds to
the growing need for international vision and
expertise by preparing exceptional individuals
from around the world to become principled
leaders of global companies and public
institutions.
The School’s programs address the complex
challenges decision-makers face in the
emerging global economy, in varied business
and policy-making environments.
The School teaches cutting-edge theory,
immerses students in international
experiences, and connects them to best
practice in business and policy. This learning
experience transforms the way its graduates
view the world, and helps them develop
insights to chart its future.
The School’s research covers fields ranging
from currency markets, corporate financial
signaling and asset prices to patents and
technology flows, international branding,
multi-cultural communication, and many
other fields. Its major research units include:
The Barbara and Richard Rosenberg Institute
of Global Finance
Established in 2001 with a generous gift from
Barbara and Richard Rosenberg, the Institute
anticipates and addresses major trends and
challenges in the global economy through
research, public conferences and symposia,
and teaching.
The Center for Asia-Pacific Business and
Economics
The Center addresses trade, investment,
finance and development in the Asia Pacific
as a whole, and in particular countries of the
region. The Center is also an APEC Study
Center.
Additional information on the School, its
programs and activities, and its admissions
policies may be obtained from the School’s
Website, www.brandeis.edu/global, or by
contacting its administrative offices at
Brandeis University.
M.A.ief Program
The Lemberg M.A. in International
Economics and Finance, offered in
collaboration with the University’s
economics department, is a two-year
professional degree that integrates analytical
skills in economics and capital markets with
practical management insights and global
economic perspectives. It prepares students
for careers in finance, economic policy,
consulting, multinational corporations, and
international organizations.
M.B.A.i. Program
The M.B.A. International, a two-year
professional degree, offers in-depth training in
all business and management functions, with
special emphasis on finance and strategy. Its
internationally focused curriculum, language
requirement, international experience
component, and multicultural aspects
distinguish it sharply from “generic” M.B.A.
degrees.
M.S.F. Program
The M.S. in finance is a 10-course, part-time
program focused on the quantitative and
analytical tools of modern finance with
emphasis on applications in investments and
corporate financial management. The
program accommodates the schedules of
working professionals by offering year-round
evening courses and may be completed
within five semesters.
Ph.D. Program
The Ph.D. in international economics and
finance, offered in collaboration with the
University’s economics department, provides
advanced training in economic theory,
research techniques, and creative problemsolving in an integrated, global economic
framework. Concentrations are limited to
international trade, international finance,
international business, and development/
transition economics. The program prepares
students for research, teaching, and policymaking careers in business, government, and
international agencies.
Combined B.A./M.A. Programs
Brandeis and Wellesley undergraduate
students may apply for admission to a special
B.A./M.A. track within the Lemberg M.A.ief
Program in the spring of their junior year.
They begin taking program courses in their
senior year and satisfy the master’s degree
requirements in one additional year of study
after receiving their B.A. degree.
How to Be Admitted to the Brandeis
International Business School
The School seeks outstanding candidates
from around the world, and from a wide range
of backgrounds and experiences. Factors
critical in the evaluation of applicants to all
IBS degree programs include academic
achievement, aptitude for graduate study,
motivation, leadership, and experience.
Detailed information regarding admission
requirements, applications, policies, and
procedures, is available on the IBS Website
and by contacting the Office of Admissions.
Test Scores and Deadlines
Applicants for the Lemberg M.A.ief Program
must submit the results of either the GMAT
or the GRE. Applicants for the M.B.A.i. and
M.S.F. programs must submit GMAT scores.
Ph.D. applicants are required to submit the
results of the GRE. A TOEFL score of 600 or
higher is normally required for students
whose native language is not English.
Although interviews are not required, they
are recommended.
Lemberg M.A.ief Program: February 15
Priority Deadline for Scholarships/April 15
Final Deadline.
M.B.A.i. Program: February 15 Priority
Deadline for Scholarships/April 15 Final
Deadline.
M.S.F. Program: January 8 for spring entry/
April 15 for summer entry/August 1 for fall
entry.
Ph.D. Program: February 15. Note: Admission
is offered only in even years (2004, 2006, etc.).
Lemberg M.A.ief Program, B.A./M.A. track:
March 15.
58
Academic Regulations
Requirements for the Degree
Incompletes
Continuation Students
Degree requirements vary by program and can
be found in a later section of this Bulletin.
Please refer to pages 220-222 for the
requirements for specific degrees.
A student who has not completed the
research or written work for any course may
receive an EI (“incomplete”) or a failing grade
at the discretion of the course instructor. A
student who receives an EI must
satisfactorily complete the work of the course
in which the incomplete was given in order
to receive credit for the course and a letter
grade. An incomplete, unless given by reason
of the student’s failure to attend a final
examination, must be made up no later than
the end of the term following the term in
which it was received. When failure to take a
final examination has resulted in an EI,
resolution of that EI to a letter grade must
occur within six weeks of the beginning of
the next term. An EI that is not resolved
within the stated time limits will
automatically become an I (“permanent
incomplete”). A student may petition the
dean for a change in a permanent incomplete,
provided the petition is signed by the
instructor of the course.
A doctoral student who has completed all
degree requirements except the dissertation is
eligible for continuation status. A student in
this category may enroll on either a half-time
basis or a full-time basis, and is eligible for
University health insurance, borrowing
privileges in the Library, a computer account,
use of gym facilities, and purchase of a
parking sticker. They are not normally
eligible for fellowships or for leaves of
absence, except for health reasons.
A student must be registered and enrolled in
the term(s) in which the dissertation is
defended and submitted to The Heller School
office.
Registration
Every resident, post-resident, and
continuation student must register at the
beginning of each term, whether attending
regular courses of study, carrying on research
or independent reading, writing a thesis or
dissertation, or utilizing any academic service
or facility of the University. All students on
semester abroad must register and enroll in
ECON 290a for that semester.
Auditing Courses
The privilege of auditing courses without fee
is extended to all regularly enrolled full-time
graduate students except Special Students.
Special Students may audit courses by paying
for them at the same rate as those taken for
credit. No courses may be audited without
the permission of the instructor. Auditors
may not take examinations or expect
evaluation from the instructor. No credit is
given for an audited course.
Residence Requirements
Residence requirements vary by program, and
can be found in a later section of this
Bulletin. Please refer to pages 220-222 for the
residence requirements for specific degrees.
Change of Program
Post-Resident Students
Students are allowed to drop courses after the
end of registration. To do so, an add/drop
form is obtained from the Office of
Administration and Student Services and
returned to the Office of the University
Registrar. Courses must be dropped no later
than one week prior to the beginning of an
examination period.
A graduate student who has completed
residence requirements and who needs to
utilize the full range of academic services and
University facilities while completing degree
requirements is a post-resident student and
should register for CONT 500a/b, or the
appropriate courses required to complete his/
her program.
Exemptions from required courses must be
requested in writing on a Requirement
Completion form, which may be obtained
from the Office of Administration and
Student Services. All requests for exemptions
must be requested during a student’s first
semester in IBS.
Continuation students must enroll before the
end of registration period each semester in
either CONT 510a/b (half-time status) or
CONT 520a/b (full-time status). For
questions regarding these enrollments please
contact the Office of the University Registrar.
International students must enroll in CONT
520a/b (full-time status). Please contact ISSO
(International Students and Scholars Office) if
there are special circumstances.
Special Students
Properly qualified applicants who wish to
audit or to take courses without working for a
degree may be admitted. Special Students are
normally not eligible for University loans,
scholarships, fellowships, or teaching or
research assistantships. Special Students who
later wish to change their status to that of
part-time or full-time students working for a
degree must apply for admission as resident
students. They must also file a special
petition if they wish credit to be accepted for
any courses taken at Brandeis as Special
Students. Credit for such course work may be
granted in exceptional cases. Normally, no
more than two courses taken for credit may
be transferable if the student is admitted to
either the master’s or doctoral program.
59
Fees and Expenses
Leave of Absence
Readmission
Tuition and Fees
Students may petition for a leave of absence.
The petition must have the approval of the
Dean. Leaves of absence of up to one year will
normally be granted to students in good
academic standing who present compelling
personal reasons. Returns from leave may be
subject to conditions established at the
inception of the leave. Time spent on
authorized leaves of absence will not be
counted toward the maximum time
permitted to complete degree requirements.
A student who was not enrolled in IBS for one
year or more and has not obtained a leave of
absence will need to apply for readmission
and will be charged the readmission fee. IBS
will determine in each case whether a
student should be readmitted. If requirements
have changed during the student’s absence or
the student is not deemed current in his or
her field of study, the student may be
required to repeat or supplement previous
academic requirements. When a student is
reinstated, he or she will be informed of
current status regarding credits and time to
degree.
Tuition
Tuition for full-time resident students for the
2003-04 academic year is $14,499.50 per
semester (or $28,999 per two-semester
academic year) for Lemberg, M.B.A.i., and
Ph.D. students. The same tuition rate applies
to the required semester abroad. The tuition
rates for the part-time M.S.F. is $2,585 per
course. Due to inflation, students who will be
at Brandeis more than one year may expect
tuition and other charges to increase slightly
during their academic careers.
If for any reason a student must extend a
leave of absence, he or she must request such
an extension in writing before the leave of
absence expires. Failure to do so will result in
involuntary withdrawal from IBS. Students
who extend their leaves of absence beyond
one year may lose funding. Should a student
wish to return, the student will be considered
for funding as part of the school’s entering
class of students.
Withdrawal
A student who wishes to withdraw
voluntarily from Brandeis International
Business School during a semester must do so
in writing to the assistant dean and must file
their request before the last day of instruction
of the semester. Failure to notify in writing of
a withdrawal may subject the student to loss
of eligibility for refunds in accordance with
the refund schedule outlined in the fees and
expenses section. Permission to withdraw
voluntarily will not be granted if the student
has not discharged all financial obligations to
the University or has not made financial
arrangements satisfactory to the bursar.
When a student withdraws during or at the
end of a semester course enrollments are not
expunged form his or her record. Rather, a
grade of W (“dropped”) is entered for each
course.
Students who are obliged to register and fail
to do so by the appropriate deadline or who
fail to pay their bill will be administratively
withdrawn. They may be readmitted (see
right) for study in a subsequent term, but not
for the term in which they were withdrawn
for failure to register. Belatedly fulfilling
financial obligations will not negate the
effects of administrative withdrawal.
Graduate Cross-Registration
A full-time graduate student at Brandeis
University may enroll in one graduate course
each term at Babson College, Bentley College,
Boston College, Boston University, Tufts
University, Wellesley College, or the
Graduate Consortium in Women’s Studies at
Radcliffe College. Information on courses for
cross-registration at each of the host
institutions is available at the Graduate
School office of each institution.
A student who wishes to enroll in a course at
one of these institutions should consult with
the instructor in the particular course and
should expect to satisfy the prerequisites and
requirements normally required for
admission to the course, including adherence
to the academic calendar of that course.
A student at Brandeis University who wishes
to enroll in a graduate course at one of the
host institutions should obtain a registration
permit from the Office of the University
Registrar and should present this permit to
the Office of the University Registrar of the
host institution.
Technology Fee: $175 per year.
Final Doctoral Fee: $325.
This fee covers all costs for the year in which
the Ph.D. degree will be conferred, including
the costs for the full publishing services for
the dissertation; publication of the abstract of
the dissertation in Dissertation Abstracts;
issuance of a Library of Congress number,
appropriate library cards, and deposit of the
dissertation in digital format at the Library of
Congress; binding four copies of the
dissertation—one hardbound for the author,
and three xerographic softbound copies (for
the author, IBS, and Library); and a microfiche
for the Brandeis Library. The Final Doctoral
Fee covers the rental expenses for academic
robes for graduation and the cost of the
diploma.
Note: All candidates for the Ph.D. degree
must pay the $325 Final Doctoral Fee at the
Office of Student Financial Services before
they file their application for degree with the
Office of the University Registrar.
Returned Check Fee: $25.
A bank service fee will be charged to a
student’s account if a payment or a check
negotiated through Brandeis is returned by
the bank for any reason.
Transcript Fee: $5.
Students, former students, and graduates
should request official transcripts of their
records from the Office of the University
Registrar, Kutz Hall. Students are entitled to
20 formal transcripts of their academic work
without charge. A charge of $5 will be made
for each subsequent transcript. Requests by
mail for transcripts must be accompanied by
a check in the correct amount payable to
Brandeis University. Official transcripts will
be issued only to those students whose
University financial records are in order.
60
Diploma Fee: $45.
Payable by candidates for the master’s degree
at the Office of Student Financial Services
before they file their application for degree
with the Office of the University Registrar.
Student Health Services Fee: $411.
Entitles the full-time graduate student to use
of Health Services.
Student Health Insurance Plan (single
coverage): $898.
All three-quarter or full-time students are
required by state law to show certification of
health insurance. Students without insurance
of their own must purchase the Student
Health Insurance Plan through the
University. The fee is payable prior to
registration and no portion is refundable.
Student insurance is optional for special
students. Additional insurance options,
including family coverage, are described in A
Guide to University Health Services, which is
available from Health Services.
Parking Fee: $35-150.
Payable annually at fall registration for
privilege of parking an automobile on
campus. Fee varies with assigned parking
area.
Late Fee: $300-500.
Refunds
The only fee that may be refundable, in part,
is the tuition fee. No refund of the tuition fee
will be made because of illness, absence, or
dismissal during the academic year. A
student who is withdrawing must notify
Brandeis International Business School in
writing; refunds will be based on the date of
notification and calculated in accordance
with the following:
1. Tuition
Withdrawal
Before the opening day of instruction: 100%
of the term’s tuition.
On or before the second Friday following the
opening day of instruction: 75% of the term’s
tuition.
On or before the fifth Friday following the
opening day of instruction: 50% of the term’s
tuition.
After the fifth Friday following the opening
day of instruction: no refund.
Requests for refunds should be addressed to
the Office of Student Financial Services.
2. Scholarship
In the case of a scholarship student who
withdraws, the student’s account will be
credited with the same proportion of the term
scholarship as charged for tuition: 75% if the
student leaves on or before the second Friday;
50% on or before the fifth Friday and no
refund thereafter.
3. Stafford Loans
In compliance with federal law, special
refund arrangements apply to first-time
students receiving aid under Title IV. Contact
Brandeis International Business School
financial aid officer for additional
information.
Housing
Ten-month living expenses in the Waltham
area for a single individual on an economical
budget are estimated to range from $9,000$11,000. Limited housing is available in the
University’s graduate residence halls.
Costs for on-campus housing range from
approximately $4,400 per semester for a
single person (these are academic year
2002-03 prices, for academic year 2003-04
expect an increase). Graduate housing
includes kitchen facilities, but students may
also purchase University meal plans.
Financial Aid
Both U.S. residents and international
students are eligible for merit- and need-based
financial support from IBS, and are also
encouraged to explore outside funding
sources. To be considered for need-based
financial aid through federal loan programs,
U.S. residents must submit a Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
This form is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov. In
past years, international students have
received support from the Fulbright, Muskie,
Ron Brown, Ford, Mandella, Soros, and other
scholarship programs, and from their
governments and employers.
Scholarships
Committed to enrolling a highly qualified
student body, the School awards scholarships
and loans based on academic and professional
promise, need, and availability of funds. All
students—U.S. residents and international
students—are automatically considered for
scholarship assistance upon admission.
Financial support varies by program.
Financial aid is not available in the
part-time M.S.F. program. M.A.ief and
M.B.A.i. students are sometimes offered
partial tuition scholarships, but in all cases
are expected to finance their own living
expenses. Exceptional Ph.D. students may
receive full tuition waivers and support
toward living expenses. Master’s degree
students who study abroad receive a grant
toward the cost of airfare to the partner
school.
The School’s major scholarship programs
include:
Dean’s Prize Scholarships
American Leadership Awards
Global Leadership Awards
Jeffrey J. Steiner Fellowships
Milton W. Feld Fellowships
Isaiah Leo Scharfman Fellowships
Further information on eligibility and
application requirements for these
scholarships and for the School’s need-based
aid is provided on the IBS Website and can be
obtained also by contacting the IBS Office of
Admissions.
Assistantships
A limited number of research and teaching
assistantships are available for qualified
students.
61
Courses of Instruction
Listed on the following pages are
undergraduate and graduate courses of
instruction for the faculty of arts and
sciences. Courses meet for three hours a
week unless otherwise specified.
Suffixes after course numbers have the
following meanings:
A or B
Semester course
Most courses are available to all students
qualified to take them. Access to some
courses is governed by the signature of the
instructor. Other courses impose a numerical
limit to preserve environmental conditions
suitable to the pedagogy the instructor
employs; students increase their chances of
gaining enrollment in such courses by
participating in pre-enrollment.
C
Semester course meeting
throughout the year
D
Full-year course
E
Intensive course, two
semester course credits,
in one semester
Each semester the University endeavors to
ensure that numerous alternatives exist by
which to make progress toward University
requirements; however, it cannot guarantee
access on demand to a particular course or to
a particular section of a multisectioned
course.
F
Half semester course,
half-course credit
G
Quarter-course credit
Generally, a course is offered with the
frequency indicated at the end of its
description. The frequency may be designated
as every semester, every year, every second
year, every third year, or every fourth year.
Courses numbered 1-99 are primarily for
undergraduate students; courses numbered
100-199 are for undergraduate and graduate
students; and courses numbered 200 and
above are primarily for graduate students.
Undergraduates may not enroll in courses
numbered 200 or higher without the written
permission of the instructor.
Among the courses numbered 200 and higher
are courses in The Heller School for Social
Policy and Management. Undergraduates may
enroll only in those Heller School courses
that are appropriate for an undergraduate arts
and sciences degree. Such courses are listed in
this Bulletin.
A semester course carries one semestercourse credit (four semester-hour credits)
while a year course carries two semestercourse credits (eight semester-hour credits).
Exceptions are noted under the individual
course descriptions. Certain courses do not
count for rate of work and do not carry course
credit toward graduation. Occasionally,
courses are awarded additional semester-hour
credits, yet count as only one semester course
toward graduation. All such courses are
specifically identified in the course listing.
Certain courses require a laboratory course
taken concurrently.
A student may take either half of a full-year
course with a D suffix for credit with the
approval and consent of the course instructor
on the appropriate form designated by the
Office of the University Registrar. Students
who enrolled in full-year courses in the fall
term are continued in the spring term
automatically.
The University reserves the right to make
any changes in the offerings without prior
notice.
62
Block System
Time
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
8:00
A
A
A
A
A
B
G
B
B
G
C
C
8:30
9:00
S6
S7
9:30
10:00
C
10:30
11:00
H
H
D
D
D
E
E
F
F
11:30
12:00
E
J
J
12:30
1:00
F
1:30
2:00
N
K
S1
N
S2
R
K
S3
R
R
2:30
3:00
P
3:30
P
L
L
4:00
4:30
5:00
S5
M
V
M
X4
Q
V
S8
5:30
6:00
6:30
Q
X1
Y
X2
Y
Q
X3
7:00
7:30
8:00
8:30
9:00
9:30
A = 8:00-9:00 any three days
B = 9:00-10:00 M W Th
C = 10:00-11:00 M W Th
D = 11:00-12:00 M W Th
E = 12:00-1:00 M W Th
F = 1:00-2:00 M W Th
G = 9:00-10:30 T F
H = 10:30-12:00 T F
J = 12:00-1:30 T F
K = 2:00-3:30 M W
L = 3:30-5:00 M W
M = 5:00-6:30 M W
N = 1:30-3:00 T F
P = 3:00-4:30 T F
Q = 6:30-7:30 M W Th
R = 2:00-3:00 T Th F
S1 = 2:00-5:00 M [= K + L]
S2 = 1:30-4:30 T [= N + P]
S3 = 2:00-5:00 W [= K + L]
S4 = 1:30-4:30 F [= N + P]
S4
S5 = 4:30-7:30 T
S6 = 9:00-12:00 T [= G + H]
S7 = 9:00-12:00 F [= G + H]
S8 = 5:00-8:00 Th
V = 5:00-6:30 T Th
X1 = 6:30-9:30 M
X2 = 6:30-9:30 W
X3 = 6:30-9:30 Th
X4 = 6:30-9:30 T
Y = 6:30-8:00 M W
63
Final Examination
Schedule 2003-2004
Fall Term 2003
Examination Date
Examination Time
Examination Block(s)
Thursday
December 4
9:15 am-12:15 pm
1:30-4:30 pm
6:00-9:00 pm
Math Common Exams*
B, X3, S8
P, S5, X4, V
Friday
December 5
9:15 am-12:15 pm
1:30-4:30 pm
6:00 pm
E
European Language
Common Exams*
none
Monday
December 8
9:15 am-12:15 pm
1:30-4:30 pm
6:00-9:00 pm
D
H, S6
G, S7
Tuesday
December 9
9:15 am-12:15 pm
1:30-4:30 pm
6:00-9:00 pm
A, K, S1
C
M, Q, X1, X2, Y
Wednesday
December 10
9:15 am-12:15 pm
Economics
Common Exams*
F
J
1:30-4:30 pm
6:00-9:00 pm
Thursday
December 11
9:15 am-12:15 pm
1:30-4:30 pm
6:00-9:00 pm
L, S3
N, R, S2, S4
Other Common Exams
Conflict Resolution
Examination Time
Examination Block(s)
Spring Term 2004
Examination Date
Wednesday
May 5
9:15 am-12:15 pm
1:30-4:30 pm
6:00-9:00 pm
H, S6
J
P, S5, X4, V
Thursday
May 6
9:15 am-12:15 pm
1:30-4:30 pm
6:00-9:00 pm
F
D
N, R, S2, S4
Friday
May 7
9:15 am-12:15 pm
1:30-4:30 pm
6:00-9:00 pm
Economics Exams*
B, X3, S8
none
Monday
May 10
9:15 am-12:15 pm
1:30-4:30 pm
6:00-9:00 pm
Math Common Exams*
A, K, S1
M, Q, X1, X2, Y
Tuesday
May 11
9:15 am-12:15 pm
1:30-4:30 pm
E
European Language
Common Exams*
G, S7
6:00-9:00 pm
Wednesday
May 12
9:15 am-12:15 pm
1:30-4:30 pm
6:00-9:00 pm
C
L, S3
Other Common Exams
Conflict Resolution
*Applies to some multisectioned courses.
Questions concerning exam date for courses
that meet in two or more blocks should be
referred to the Office of the University
Registrar.
64
Course
Abbreviations
AAAS
African and
Afro-American Studies
AMST
American Studies
ANTH
Anthropology
ECS
European Cultural Studies
ED
Education
ENG
IECS
Italian and
European Cultural Studies
IEF
International Economics and
Finance
IGS
International and
Global Finance
INET
Internet Studies
IMES
Islamic and
Middle Eastern Studies
English and
American Literature
ARBC
Arabic
ENVS
Environmental Studies
BCHM
Biochemistry
ESL
English as a Second Language
BCSC
Biochemical Science
FA
Fine Arts
BIBC
Biology and Biochemistry
FECS
French and
European Cultural Studies
ISP
International Studies
BIOC
Bioorganic Chemistry
FILM
Film Studies
ITAL
Italian Studies
FIN
Finance
JAPN
Japanese
FREN
French Language and
Literature
JCS
The Hornstein Program in
Jewish Communal Service
GECS
German and
European Cultural Studies
JOUR
Journalism
LAS
Latin American Studies
Business
GENC
Genetic Counseling
LAT
Latin
CHEM
Chemistry
GER
German Language and
Literature
LGLS
Legal Studies
CHIN
Chinese
GRK
Greek
LING
Linguistics
CHIS
Comparative History
HBRW
LS
Literary Studies
CHSC
Chemical Science
Hebrew Language and
Literature
MATH
Mathematics
HIST
History
MEVL
HLS
Health and Society
Medieval and
Renaissance Studies
HOID
History of Ideas
MUS
Music
HS
The Heller School of Social
Policy and Management
NBCH
Neuroscience and Biochemistry
NBIO
Neuroscience and Biology
HSSP
Health: Science, Society, and
Policy
NEJS
Near Eastern and
Judaic Studies
NEUR
Neuroscience
BIOL
BIOP
BIPH
BISC
BUS
CLAS
Biology
Biophysics and
Structural Biology
Biological Physics
Biological Science
Classical Studies
COML
Comparative Literature
COMP
Composition
CONT
Continuation
COSI
Computer Science
EAS
East Asian Studies
ECON
Economics
HUM
Humanities
IB
International Business
ICON
Independent Interdisciplinary
Major
65
NPHY
Neuroscience and Physics
NPSY
Neuroscience and Psychology
PAX
Peace, Conflict, and
Coexistence Studies
PE
Physical Education
PHIL
Philosophy
PHSC
Physical Science
PHYS
Physics
POL
Politics
PSYC
Psychology
RECS
Russian and
European Cultural Studies
REES
Russian and
East European Studies
REL
Religious Studies
RUS
Russian Language and
Literature
SECS
Spanish and
European Cultural Studies
SID
Sustainable International
Development
SJSP
Social Justice and Social Policy
SOC
Sociology
SPAN
Spanish Language and
Literature
THA
Theater Arts
USEM
University Seminar in
Humanistic Inquiries
UWS
University Writing Seminar
WMNS
Women’s Studies
YDSH
Yiddish
66
Requirement Codes
In the course listings that follow, some courses have been coded to
indicate that they fulfill (or partially fulfill) particular University
requirements. The legend below provides a key to the codes used.
Note that not every requirement has been coded. Neither the
University Seminars in Humanistic Inquiries nor the University
Writing Seminars have been coded. The course abbreviations of USEM
and UWS readily identify the University Seminars in Humanistic
Inquiries and the University Writing Seminars.
General University Requirements
ca
School of Creative Arts
sn
School of Science
fl
Foreign Language
ss
School of Social Science
hum
School of Humanities
wi
Writing Intensive
nw
Non-Western and Comparative Studies
qr
Quantitative Reasoning